The Phillies entered tonight’s game with the Braves looking to not only salvage a split of their four-game series but to also win a game started by Aaron Nola for the first time in 356 days.

After building a 10-1 lead in the second inning, it became clear such a bizarre streak was set to come to emphatic end.

The way Nola, who appeared in position to toss his first career complete game in 130 big league starts, baffled the Braves on Monday night, two runs would have likely done the job (had he finished the game). Why, exactly, didn’t he finish?

Here’s Joe Girardi on his decision to remove Nola after eight low-stress innings:

I think we’ve seen the track record of pitchers since we’ve come back, how many people have gotten hurt. It’s the most up-downs that he’s had, he was eight innings. I think his high has been six. We weren’t worried about the pitch count. Aaron did not want to come out, but sometimes I feel that it’s my job to protect players from themselves. And I feel bad pulling him, and I told him, I understand if he’s upset with me. I’m O.K. with that, but the prize is not the month of August. And we need him to be healthy, and we don’t need him to get fatigued.

While it would have been fun to watch Nola put a ninth-inning exclamation point on his performance, I wholeheartedly agreed with Girardi’s decision to go to the pen. There was no need to risk Nola’s health or future effectiveness in what was a 12-run game.

A night after the Phillies’ lineup slumped through a miserable 7-for-48 performance, the offense rebounded by going 8-for-12 to start the night. In fact, it had surpassed its combined Sunday hit total in the second inning, and it took 36 less at-bats to do it. Weird game, that baseball.

Anyway, enough out of me for a moment – sometimes it’s best to let your eyes take in the story, so sit back and enjoy the majestic beauty of Phillies 13, Braves 1.

Oh, the Braves scored a touchdown in the ninth against the bullpen? Welp…

…the majestic beauty of Phillies 13, Braves 8.

3-0, Phils.

4-1, Phils. Braves starter Sean Newcomb would be out of the game four batters later. He only retired four batters on the night. Perhaps reliever Robbie Erlin would have better luck.

Nope. 9-1, Phils.

And…10-1, Phils.

To borrow from a favorite Anchorman scene:

Boy, that escalated quickly. I mean, that really got out of hand fast.

J.T Realmuto killed a guy.

For those counting, the Phillies hit 1,964 ft. of home runs against the Braves over the first four innings.

Per ESPN Stats and Info, tonight marked just the third time in franchise history the Phillies hit five homers in the first four innings of a game. They hadn’t done it over 55 years.

The onslaught would prove to be more than run enough support for Nola just one start after his teammates spoiled a masterful six-inning, twelve-strikeout effort last Wednesday against the Yankees.

Speaking of which…

Aaron Nola Continues to Cruise

The Phillies ace was simply dominant on Monday night. He was particularly efficient early on, needing just 42 pitches to get through the first four innings, a particularly impressive feat given he had accumulated five strikeouts by that point.

Nola, who threw 63 strikes on 89 pitches, continued to roll through a potent Braves lineup on his way to striking out 10 over eight innings of work. He allowed just two hits and a walk.

A brief sampling of his unspeakable fifth:

Nola generated 15 whiffs on 44 Braves swings, good for a 34 percent SwStr%. That is by my estimation a strong to quite strong effort.

As for missing out on a shot at a complete game in the ninth, Nola said he understood Girardi’s decision.

“Obviously, I wanted to. I understand where they’re coming from, for sure,” he said. “Putting that aside, I’m in a 13-1 ballgame, it was a good game by us, and hitters came out hot, and I felt pretty good overall. That’s all that matters.”

Had the game been closer, Nola suggested he may have been more adamant about finishing the job.

“Yeah, I feel like it would be a little bit different conversation if it was a close game,” he said. “I could see myself going out for sure, if it was a close game. Maybe there will be another change for that, you know, I hope there is. On a different note, we got a “W” and that’s all matters.”

 

Goose Remains Loose

Lost in the blowout was another chapter of what continues to be the amazing story of Phil Gosselin. He picked up two more hits and reached base three times. He’s now hitting .471 with a 1.512 OPS.

If he wasn’t already there, Gosselin has safely cemented himself in must-start territory against left-handed pitching.

“Well, he’s started against every left-hander, and I don’t see myself changing that anytime soon because he’s been so effective,” Girardi said.

The Phillies are expected to see at least one left-hander when they face Baltimore this week. Wade LeBlanc (1-0, 6.91 ERA) is slated to pitch Wednesday.

 

Rhys Hoskins’ Incremental Progress

Walks have been a friend to Rhys Hoskins this season, but if the Phillies are to realize their full potential, whatever it is, in 2020, they desperately need his batted ball production to increase. He reached base two more times tonight, which included a first-inning single.

Phils manager Joe Girardi remains publicly confident in his first baseman, who sports a gaudy .435 OBP through 11 games despite just a .188 average.

“This is a game that you have to do every day. Hitters need to be there every day, now pitchers don’t, but hitters do, and I think guys have had a hard time finding their rhythm,” Girardi said. “And, you know, we have a number of guys that are struggling with that, but Rhys has done the best job of keeping the line moving.”

True. However, Hoskins’ homerless streak is now over 100 plate appearances. He last went deep on September 17, 2019 against the Braves. You can read my more in-depth story on Hoskins’ strange start right here.

Have a Night, Roman Quinn

A big summer camp performance vaulted Quinn into the Phillies’ Opening Day lineup, but it had been a sleepy start for him – until tonight. Quinn, who finished 3-for-4, raised his average 93 points from .211 to .304. He finished a triple short of the cycle.

The Bullpen

Nick Pivetta was charged with protecting a 12-run lead in the ninth. It did not go well.

Things would get worse. Pivetta surrendered six hits and six earned runs. He recorded just one out.

For those keeping track at home, the first man out of this team’s bullpen has now allowed 25 earned runs and recorded just 21 outs this season. That’s almost impossible.

Girardi has championed patience as his relievers work to overcome a disjointed early schedule, but the expiration date of that defense is fast approaching. After the game, I asked Girardi when the organization might consider making a move.

The exchange:

Crossing Broad: Hey Joe, I know you’ve talked a little bit about it being early and guys not getting consistent work to this point. Do you have a certain date or a certain set amount of games where you would maybe have to consider bringing in someone else from the satellite camp or making a change in the bullpen? At what point would you consider doing that?

Girardi: I think we talk about everything every day. And, obviously, if someone is struggling here for a period of time and someone is pitching well down there, lot of times you make changes. But as of right now, we have not made any changes as of right now, but we will continue to discuss our bullpen.

My read? I think changes are on the horizon, perhaps as soon as Tuesday.