In a pinch, Williams, Phils climb atop East

Clutch hit, Nola’s pitching stifle Blue Jays

PHILADELPHIA — Another stellar performance from their ace and a big home run from their best pinch hitter have lifted the Philadelphia Phillies to heights they haven’t reached in seven years.

Aaron Nola took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, Nick Williams belted his third pinch-hit homer of the year in the eighth, and the Phillies moved into first in the National League East on Saturday with a 2-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

“It’s pretty cool,” Nola said. “It’s the first time I’ve been in first place since I’ve been up.”

Nola did not allow a hit until Russell Martin’s RBI single to left in the seventh, which tied the game at 1.

After cruising through the first six innings, Nola came back out to work the seventh after a 13-minute rain delay — the second short delay of the game — and walked Justin Smoak and Yangervis Solarte before Martin came through, ending the right-hander’s day.

Nola struck out 10 and walked three. He threw 113 pitches, matching a career high set on June 27, 2017.

“They were taking some good pitches,” Nola said. “I was just trying to get ahead, and I felt like I did that pretty well. I just thought they kind of ran my pitch count up. … The defense helped me.”

Williams turned on an 0-and-1 cutter from Joe Biagini (0-4) to break the tie and allow Philadelphia to take a half-game lead over Atlanta in the NL East. It was the latest in a season the Phillies had been in first since the conclusion of the 2011 season, when they won 102 games.

“I was just looking for something up, something to drive. Something that I could hit hard. Especially in that situation. I was trying to get something going,” Williams said.

Williams leads the majors in pinch-hit RBIs (eight) and total bases (19). His three pinch-hit homers tied Miami’s Justin Boar for tops in the majors.

Seranthony Dominguez (1-0), who relieved Nola, allowed one hit in 1 1/3 innings for his first major league win. Luis Garcia worked the ninth for his first save in his second opportunity.

Jaime Garcia allowed five hits in seven innings and gave up his lone run on Maikel Franco’s homer leading off the fifth.

Derik Hamilton The Associated Press Phillies pinch hitter Nick Williams follows through on a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning of Philadelphia’s 2-1 home win over the Blue Jays on Saturday.