PHILADELPHIA -- It's just a mistake here and there standing in the way of Aaron Nola taking the next step. In Friday's 5-4 loss to the D-backs, the Phillies right-hander turned in a solid first six innings, allowing two runs on six hits before returning for the seventh.
Were Nola to have completed the seventh, it would have been the first time all season that Phillies starters lasted seven innings in consecutive games.
But there was a mistake.
After allowing a leadoff single to pinch-hitter Jeremy Hazelbaker, Nola threw over to first base four times before reverting his attention to Gregor Blanco, the task at hand, who was planted in the left-handed batter's box with his club trailing the Phillies, 4-2.