Home runs bail out Phillies relievers
Nola solid for 8 innings before bullpen allows Braves 7 runs in ninth
Aaron Nola got enough run support that even another dismal performance by the bullpen couldn’t ruin.
Didi Gregorius hit a grand slam, Bryce Harper blasted a three-run shot and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 13-8 Monday night, giving Nola his first win in nearly a year.
Nola (1-1) allowed one run, two hits and struck out 10 in eight innings. He threw just 89 pitches but was denied an opportunity for his first career complete game in his 130th start. Two relievers gave up seven runs in the ninth.
“Obviously, I wanted to,” Nola said about finishing the game. “I understand where they’re coming from, for sure.”
Phillies manager Joe Girardi said he removed Nola because there have been many injuries to pitchers across the majors.
“My job is to protect players from themselves,” he said. “I feel bad for pulling him.”
The Phillies had lost Nola’s last nine starts, scoring only 27 runs combined in those games.
Roman Quinn, Jean Segura and J.T. Realmuto added solo shots for Philadelphia, which bounced back after getting swept in Sunday’s doubleheader to earn a split of the four-game series. Tigers 5, White sox 1: Jacoby Jones hit an inside-the-park home run in the seventh inning and Detroit breezed to its fourth straight victory. Niko Goodrum homered and had four hits for the Tigers, who handed Chicago its fifth loss in six games. It wasn’t all good news for Detroit, though. First baseman C.J. Cron exited with a left knee injury in the fourth. White Sox slugger Jose Abreu came up limping after grounding out in the eighth and left the game as well. The Tigers improved to 9-5 on the year after losing 114 games in 2019. Detroit was up 3-1 in the seventh when center fielder Adam Engel went for a lunging catch on a sinking liner by Jones. Engel missed, and it’s a long way out to the wall in center field at Comerica Park. Jones circled the bases and scored standing up for a two-run homer, his fifth of the season. Michael Fulmer pitched three scoreless innings for Detroit, and Daniel Norris (1-1) worked two. Gregory Soto went 11⁄3 hitless innings in relief. Dallas Keuchel (2-2) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings.