Aaron Nola delivered another gem and reliever Ricardo Pinto got a huge out in the eighth inning as the Phillies stopped the New York Mets, 3-1, Saturday night.
This was a pitching-led victory for the Phils, who had just five singles in the game. Four of those hits came in the fifth inning when they scored two runs.
Nola has pitched at least six innings and allowed two or fewer runs in 10 straight starts. No other Phillies starter has done that since 1900.
Starting pitching report
Nola gave up just two hits - one was a solo homer - and a run over seven innings. He walked two and struck out eight. Nola's ERA over his last 10 starts is a glistening 1.71. That's the best in the majors over that span.
Nola gave up a solo homer to Yoenis Cespedes with one out in the fourth inning. It was Cespedes' fifth homer of the season against the Phillies and the Mets' 18th in six games at Citizens Bank Park this season. Nola showed some moxie the next time Cespedes came to the plate with two outs in the sixth. The right-hander buzzed an 0-2 fastball up and in on Cespedes. The Mets' slugger glared briefly at Nola then struck out on an 1-2 changeup.
Mets starter Steve Matz appeared to retaliate for Nola's message pitch to Cespedes. Matz hit Nick Williams with a pitch in the bottom of the inning.
Matz gave up just two runs in 5 2/3 innings. He held the Phillies hitless for the first four innings then gave up four singles and two runs in the fifth.
Bullpen report
The rookie Pinto came up huge in striking out Cespedes on three pitches, including a 98-mph finisher, with two men on base to end the top of the eighth and preserve a one-run lead.
Luis Garcia got the save. He got the final two outs of the game with a runner on first base. Second baseman Cesar Hernandez ended it with a terrific play on a smash by Travis d'Arnaud.
At the plate
The Phillies did not exactly tear the cover off the ball in scoring two runs in the fifth inning to erase a 1-0 deficit. Williams beat out an infield hit and Maikel Franco lined a single to left. After a sacrifice bunt by Nola, Hernandez and Freddy Galvis found holes and delivered a pair of ground-ball hits to score runs.
Tommy Joseph delivered an important sacrifice fly to score an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth.
Odubel Herrera's hitting streak rose to 15 games.
Rhys Hoskins is hitless in his first three games.
Cespedes' homer against Nola accounted for the Mets' lone run.
In the field
Franco made several nice plays at third base.
A moving tribute
The Phillies honored three recently deceased Wall of Famers before the game (see story).
Pitching plans
The Phillies have not named a starter for Tuesday night's game in San Diego. Mark Leiter Jr. could get the nod, though he has been quite valuable in a relief role lately. The opening in the rotation occurred when Vince Velasquez went on the disabled list with a finger injury.
Up next
The Phillies and Mets close out the series Sunday afternoon. Zach Eflin (1-3, 5.67) pitches for the Phillies against right-hander Chris Flexen (1-1, 8.49).
Instant Replay: Phillies 3, Mets 1
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