Aaron Nola had outlasted the rain and weathered a rising pitch count and fought off the heart of the Toronto Blue Jays’ batting order for a third time, all without giving up a hit. But he also had walked two of the previous three batters, and so, after 107 pitches and with the Phillies’ bullpen stirring in the seventh inning of a one-run game Saturday, Nola received a mound visit from manager Gabe Kapler.
The question, to borrow and tweak lyrics by The Clash: Should Nola stay or should he go?
Kapler stuck with Nola, to the delight of an announced crowd of 26,788 at Citizens Bank Park.