ATLANTA - Six minutes after the first pitch between two rebuilding teams at a soon-to-be extinct stadium, the Phillies had sent four batters to the plate. All four had scored. This eventual 7-5 win by the Phillies on Thursday night was swiftly captured, but it did not reduce concern over another erratic start by Aaron Nola.
Handed a five-run lead before he ever threw a pitch against one of the worst lineups in baseball, Nola slogged through five unspectacular innings. He still earned the win, his first since June 5, when the pitcher owned a 2.65 ERA and no worries whatsoever.