The New York Mets may own the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field, but it’s hard for anyone to walk into Citizens Bank Park and play at their peak.
On Monday, the Phillies won the opener of the final series of the season between the two teams, and opened up their biggest lead yet atop the National League East at eight games.
The game was a 1-0 affair, and based on the season’s box scores, the starting pitcher for the Phillies was likely the one observers would have least expected: veteran right-hander Aaron Nola.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 8: Aaron Nola #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the first inning during a game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on September 8, 2025 in Philadelphia,…
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 8: Aaron Nola #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the first inning during a game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on September 8, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
More
Martin/Getty Images
Nola entered with a 6.78 ERA in his first 13 starts, but he buckled down and blanked the Mets for six innings on Monday. Most impressively, he set down the heart of the order in his sixth and final inning, including a strikeout of superstar outfielder Juan Soto.
So how did Nola set down Soto? Just by throwing him a cutter, the only time he broke out the pitch among the 94 deliveries he stockpiled on the evening.
“Just something he hadn’t seen before,” Nola said, per Paul Casella of MLB.com.
After striking out Soto to lead off the inning, Nola induced a flyout by Pete Alonso and then punched out Brandon Nimmo on a sinker. It brought his strikeout total to seven on the evening, only allowing three hits.
“They’re good hitters,” Nola said, per Casella. “I’ve faced them a lot. Just to get those guys out, especially to get Soto, was big.”
The 32-year-old Nola’s struggles are still one of the biggest concerns facing the Phillies in the short and long term. They signed him to a seven-year, $172 million extension just last year, so if he can’t be a productive member of the rotation for a few more seasons, they’ll be wasting big-time money.
But Monday night was a big step in the right direction, and the element of surprise could prove to be a weapon for the veteran moving forward.
More MLB: Dodgers Predicted to Cut Ties with $10 Million All-Star to Sign Kyle Tucker