Takeaways after Aaron Nola throws his first career 9 inning complete game shutout to win series

In a game that was big for the Philadelphia Phillies to win the series over the St. Louis Cardinals, the Phils came through with an unbelievable day from starter Aaron Nola and a great day for Bryce Harper.

Here’s three takeaways:

Nola pitches first of many

Aaron Nola bounced back from two uncharacteristically short starts to pitch a gem and get the Phillies a series win over the Cardinals.

This was one of the most dominant starts of Nola’s career and his first nine-inning complete gamer. He had two complete games in 2020 but they were in seven-inning doubleheaders.

Nola allowed just one hit through the game’s first seven innings and two on the day. He struck out 10 and only four balls left the infield, all were weak flyballs.

He came back out in the ninth at 102 pitches and retired Tommy Edman, Paul Goldschmidt, and Nolan Arenado in that order.

Nola is 1-1 with a 2.19 ERA. He has 28 strikeouts and three walks in 23 2/3 innings. 

Great day for Harper

Bryce Harper provided the Phillies’ ace an early run of support with a no-doubt, 425-foot solo blast to the middle of the second deck in right field.

Harper, who missed Saturday’s game with back tightness, was locked in at the plate. He went 3-for-3 with a walk Sunday and reached base all four times.

In his last two games, he has a homer, two doubles, a single, two walks, and two 400-foot flyouts that left his bat at 108 and 109 mph. If either of those balls traveled two more feet, Harper’s start to the season would be gaining more attention.

Segura stays sneakily good as Moniak is the opposite

Jean Segura stayed hot with two hits, including a double. Segura is 12-for-23 over the last week with four extra-base hits, providing offense out of the bottom third of the batting order that the Phillies have badly needed with the centerfielders in the eight-spot doing nothing.

That eight-spot provided nothing again Sunday, by the way. Mickey Moniak went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and a walk as the Phillies have now gone 12 straight games without a hit from their centerfielder.

Up next

The 8-7 Phillies have three at home starting Monday against former manager Gabe Kapler’s San Francisco Giants. Game one on Monday will start at 7:05 P.M. E.S.T.