Facing each other for the first time since the World Series, the Phillies got with the best part out of Minute Maid Park to open a three-game series against the Astros. On Friday night, Framber Valdez got into a pitching duel with also-righty Aaron Nola, who came out with the win as Philadelphia defeated Houston 3-1.
The Astros kept struggling offensively and their inconsistencies showed up, though we need to point out the great performance by Nola. The Phillies’ starter used all of his five pitches and induced an average exit velocity of 78.4 miles per hour with his stellar knuckle curveball.