WASHINGTON — Aaron Nola kept coming back to the same word: atmosphere.
It struck Nola on Monday night as he stood in front of the National League dugout and watched Phillies teammate Rhys Hoskins swing for the fences in a home run derby won by Bryce Harper, the local favorite at Nationals Park. And he guessed it would hit him again when he tipped his cap in pregame introductions Tuesday night and came out of the bullpen to pitch in the All-Star Game for the first time in his short career.
“The atmosphere was off the charts [Monday] night,” Nola said.