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Phillies’ Pitching Dominating Again

This season has not been one to write home about. There have been stretches where the offense is clicking and the pitching is not. There have been stretches when the pitching is clicking and the offense is not. But for at least one series, the Philadelphia Phillies‘ pitching was as dominant as ever. Behind the top-3 of their rotation, they completed their first sweep of the season. The question now remains: could this be the turning point for the Phillies’ season?

Phillies Pitching Dominating Again

Aaron Nola

It all started Monday night. Aaron Nola was set to take the mound, coming off of a loss in his previous start to the division-rival New York Mets. In that game, he went six innings giving up four runs while only striking out five. His next start, however, would be much different.

Nola seemingly had every pitch working for him that night. He would take a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Unfortunately, his third walk of the night, and an Edmundo Sosa error, would put two men on for Nick Maton. Maton would account for the only hit Nola allowed, by driving one into the seats in right field to put the Detroit Tigers on the board. Nola would bounce back, however, and strike out Eric Haase to finish the seventh, his final inning, with 12 strikeouts. It would be his 29th start of double-digit strikeouts, tying him for third all-time, with Cole Hamels, for double-digit strikeout games as a Philly.

Taijuan Walker

On Tuesday night, it was Taijuan Walker’s turn to prove he is better than he has performed thus far this season. After signing a 4-year, $72 million contract this past off-season, the Phillies had written it off as a loss to start his tenure. But Tuesday night was different.

Walker was coming off of one of the worst starts of his career. In his previous outing, he only went four innings, allowing three runs and only two strikeouts. But Tuesday night, Walker was a completely different pitcher. For the second time in as many nights, the Phillies would have a starter go seven innings. Walker struck out eight Tigers’ batters, while only allowing two hits and three walks. It would prove to be the best start of his Philly tenure to date and result in the Phillies’ 29th win of the season.

Zack Wheeler

Zack Wheeler would have to wait an extra day for his chance at redemption. Wednesday night’s game would be postponed for everyone’s safety due to the smoke from the ongoing Canadian wildfire. That extra day could have proved costly as Phillies’ pitching was finally clicking as had been the hope from the beginning.

Wheeler was, much like Nola and Walker before him, coming off of one of his worst starts as a member of the Phillies. His previous start, however, came against the Washington Nationals, where he would only go 3.2 innings while allowing eight hits, seven runs, and only striking out three. Thursday night would be much different.

Wheeler would be the third pitcher in a row to go at least seven innings on his turn through the rotation. Pitching 7.1 innings, he would be the second of the three to take a no-hitter deep into the night, before losing it at the end, but not losing the game. Only allowing one hit and striking out eight batters, the Phillies did have to come from behind in the ninth to win as the defense once again proved costly. Phillies’ pitching prevailed, however, and the Phillies would complete their first sweep of the season.

Phillies’ Pitching

On paper, the Philadelphia Phillies have one of the best rotations in baseball. Fronted by soon-to-be free agent Aaron Nola, it does look to get even better once Andrew Painter has recovered from his injury and makes his much-anticipated debut. This stretch, however, has been what the Phillies’ have been looking for since Opening Day. This stretch could be the catalyst to get the Phillies back on the right track, back to their winning ways. When you have starting pitchers that are capable of what we have witnessed over this past week, the sky is the limit. That is, assuming the offense can keep up.

Main photo credits:

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Players mentioned:

Aaron Nola, Edmundo Sosa, Nick Maton, Eric Haase, Cole Hamels, Taijuan Walker, Zack Wheeler, Andrew Painter

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