PITTSBURGH - Aaron Nola pitched seven excellent innings for the Phillies in his return from the DL Sunday, but it didn't matter as the Phils' bats went completely silent in a 1-0 loss.
It's the first time they've been shut out since the second game of the season in Cincinnati.
The result is the Phils' seventh series loss in a row. They haven't won a series since April 26-27 against the Marlins, who are one of just two teams in baseball with a worse record than the 15-26 Phillies.
Starting pitching report
Nola was sharp and efficient all afternoon, reaching as high as 95.5 mph on the radar gun and working ahead of two of every three hitters.
Look here for more on his performance (see breakdown of Nola's return).
Pirates right-hander Chad Kuhl, a native of Middletown, Delaware, allowed just one hit over five shutout innings with two walks and five strikeouts. The lone hit he allowed was a Maikel Franco double.
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Kuhl, who entered with a 6.69 ERA, was pinch-hit for with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. It was the Pirates' first opportunity with a runner in scoring position and manager Clint Hurdle decided to go with Jose Osuna, who lined out to center.
Lefties had hit .319 with a 1.176 OPS off Kuhl entering Sunday but the Phillies' lefty-heavy lineup did nothing against him, going 0 for 10 with a walk.
At the plate
There was practically no offense to speak of for the Phils. Their only chances with runners in scoring position came in the fifth and eighth innings.
In the fifth, Andrew Knapp and Nola struck out looking with men on first and second.
In the eighth, Aaron Altherr struck out on a 98 mph from dominant lefty reliever Felipe Rivero to end a two-on, two-out threat.
Up next
The Phillies are home all week after going 2-7 on their nine-game road trip through Washington, Texas and Pittsburgh.
They open a four-game series against the Colorado Rockies tomorrow night at 7:05.
At 27-17, the Rockies have the best record in the National League, and unlike most years they've been better on the road (14-7) than at Coors Field (13-10).
Monday, 7:05 p.m. - Jerad Eickhoff (0-4, 4.53) vs. TBA
Tuesday, 7:05 p.m. - Zach Eflin (0-1, 4.25) vs. German Marquez (2-2, 4.34)
Wednesday, 7:05 p.m. - Jeremy Hellickson (5-1, 3.44) vs. Tyler Chatwood (3-6, 5.09)
Thursday, 1:05 p.m. - Vince Velasquez (2-4, 5.98) vs. Tyler Anderson (3-4, 6.00)
