SAN FRANCISCO - Aaron Nola handed the ball to Pete Mackanin, and the young pitcher took 34 steps from the mound at AT&T Park to the Phillies dugout, where a most uncertain future awaited him.
In an 8-7 loss Sunday to the Giants, Nola could not complete four innings for the fourth straight start. Nola, once considered the steadiest presence at the onset of this rebuilding process, is not guaranteed to make his next start. His sudden downfall is jarring.
And, still, the Phillies lingered in a wild game. Johnny Cueto cruised until he plunked Maikel Franco in the ribs with two outs in the fourth inning.