Aaron Nola tosses a gem, Phillies crush Diamondbacks to take commanding NLCS lead

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies put on yet another power display Tuesday night, but this time, it was the guy on the mound, and not at the plate, that stole the show. 

Aaron Nola, who is dominating this postseason, put on a clinic in the Phillies’ 10-0 romp over the Arizona Diamondbacks, giving them a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series. 

Nola, a free agent after the season, was simply brilliant, keeping the D-backs’ lineup off-balance with his array of fastballs, knuckle-curveballs, changeups and sliders. 

Nola gave up just three hits and struck out seven batters without a walk in his dazzling six-inning performance, and the Phillies are now 8-0 in his eight starts since Aug. 10 at Citizens Bank Park. 

And, of course, what’s a postseason game without the Phillies hitting home runs? 

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The Phillies hit three more homers, two from Kyle Schwarber and another by Trea Turner, giving them a record 15 homers in the last four games, and 19 in the first eight games of the postseason. They have out-homered their opponents 35-9 and outscored them 83-31 in their last 14 postseason games at Citizens Bank Park. 

It was all enough, with the sellout crowd of 45,412 screaming the past two days, to give the D-backs a throbbing headache on their long flight home to Phoenix. 

The Diamondbacks entered the series believing they needed to win three of the four starts by co-aces Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, but lost both games, and now have to rely on rookie Brandon Pfaadt (5.72 ERA) in Game 3 and a bullpen game scheduled in Game 4 to save their season. 

The D-backs not only have to find a way to keep the ball in the ballpark with Schwarber the latest Phillies’ slugger to hit two home runs in a game, but manage to score. 

And they were clueless against Nola. 

While Nola had a so-so regular season, going 12-9, 4.46 ERA, he has turned it on just when the Phillies have needed him the most. He has been lights-out this postseason, winning all three of his starts, and lowering his ERA to 1.57 in five career postseason starts. 

It’s enough to draw a whole lot of attention in free agency, with Nola and the Phillies never close to reaching an extension last winter, and they’ll now have plenty of competition bidding for his services. 

Then again, money has been no problem with Phillies owner John Middleton, and they’ll have plenty more coming in with an influx of cash coming in from an increase in season-ticket sales, sponsorships, and World Series shares. 

Give them the right offer, Nola says, and he’s ready to sign. 

“Yeah, I hope so, I really do,’’ he said. “I love it here. Obviously, it's the only place I've been. I came up through some special times in the rebuilding era and getting to witness and be a part of a lot of different type of teams. 

“To be on a team like I am now, it's really cool and special to see, and to be a part of all the success and failures to get to where we are now.’’ 

Two more victories against Arizona, and the Phillies are back in the World Series. 

Six more and they’re World Series champions. 

Philadelphia city officials have yet to set up a parade route, but pardon them for cleaning the dust off some barricades.

They may soon be having a party to remember.

Here's how Game 2 unfolded on Tuesday night, by Jesse Yomtov:

Phillies pouring it on: 10-0 lead through seven

Alec Bohm hit a two-run double in the bottom of seventh to further extend the Phillies' advantage to 8-0. J.T. Realmuto followed that up with an RBI single and Nick Castellanos drove in Philadelphia's 10th run with a sacrifice fly.

Phillies break it open in the sixth, now up 6-0

J.T. Realmuto's two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the sixth plated Trea Turner and Bryson Stott, and Brandon Marsh followed with an RBI double of his own to extend the Phillies' lead to 6-0.

Philadelphia entered the frame up 2-0 before Kyle Schwarber's leadoff home, sending eight batters to the plate against the Diamondbacks.

Joe Mantiply replaced Merrill Kelly with two outs and one runner on base, giving up three hits and a walk before recording the final out.

Kyle Schwarber homers again, Phillies up 3-0

Kyle Schwarber led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run off Merrill Kelly, his second of the game and third in two nights. The Phillies' lead is up to 3-0 and they're just nine outs away from taking a commanding 2-0 series lead in the 2023 NLCS.

Phillies lead 2-0 halfway through Game 2

Phillies starter Aaron Nola has given up just two hits in five scoreless innings with five strikeouts and no walks, helping the reigning NL champions hold a 2-0 lead midway through the fifth. A free agent after the season, Nola didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning.

Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber's home runs are the difference at Citizens Bank Park.

Kyle Schwarber home run extends Phillies lead

A day after his leadoff home run in Game 1, Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber went long again – a solo shot in the bottom of the third that extended Philadelphia's lead to 2-0.

Schwarber set career-highs with 47 home runs and 104 RBI in the regular season. His home run Tuesday was his second of the 2023 postseason, after hitting six in the Phillies' postseason run last year.

Bryce Harper, the first baseman

Philadelphia's $330 million man hadn't placed first base at all until a few months ago. Now, he's making amazing plays on the biggest stage.

Harper's diving stop on a sharp ground ball from Corbin Carroll took a hit away from the Arizona rookie, ending the top of the third inning.

Trea Turner’s first-inning home run puts Phillies ahead

A night after the Phillies blasted two homers in the first, Trea Turner went long against Merrill Kelly with one out in the bottom of the opening frame to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead.

It was Turner’s fourth home run of the 2023 postseason, having hit two in the NLDS against the Braves and one in the wild-card series against the Marlins.

Bryce Harper walked after Turner's home run and was later caught stealing to end the inning.

Aaron Nola works around first-inning error

Phillies shortstop Trea Turner made an error on the first play of the game, allowing Diamondbacks leadoff hitter Corbin Carroll – who had 54 steals in the regular season – to get on base. 

Nola responded by striking out Ketel Marte and Tommy Pham, before getting Christian Walker to pop out to second for the final out of the first inning.

Merrill Kelly vs. Phillies, Aaron Nola vs. Diamondbacks stats

Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly has a 2.75 ERA in three career starts against the Phillies, giving up six earned runs in 19.2 innings.

• Trea Turner has the most experience against Kelly, going 9-for-21 with six RBI in his career.

Phillies starter Aaron Nola has a 7.67 ERA in five career starts against the Diamondbacks, but got a win in his one start in 2023 against Arizona.

• No player on the Diamondbacks has more than nine career at-bats against Nola.

Merrill Kelly would be 'surprised' if CBP is crazier than WBC game

Arizona's Game 2 starter Merrill Kelly may have stirred the pot, saying that he'd be "very surprised" if the noise at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia was crazier than the crowd during Team USA's WBC win over Venezuela in March.

Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, who hit a grand slam in that game, kindly responded to Kelly's comment.

"We'll see what he says after tonight's game," Turner said.

Phillies, Diamondbacks starting lineups and probable pitchers

Diamondbacks

RHP Merrill Kelly – 12-8, 3.29 ERA regular season – 1-0, 0 ER in 6 ⅓ innings postseason

1. Corbin Carroll (L) RF
2. Ketel Marte (S) 2B
3. Tommy Pham (R) DH
4. Christian Walker (R) 1B
5. Gabriel Moreno (R) C
6. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (R) LF
7. Alek Thomas (L) CF
8. Evan Longoria (R) 3B
9. Geraldo Perdomo (S) SS

Phillies

RHP Aaron Nola – 12-9, 4.46 ERA regular season – 2-0, 1.42 ERA in 12⅔ IP postseason

1. Kyle Schwarber (L) DH
2. Trea Turner (R) SS
3. Bryce Harper (L) 1B
4. Alec Bohm (R) 3B
5. Bryson Stott (L) 2B
6. J.T. Realmuto (R) C
7. Nick Castellanos (R) RF
8. Brandon Marsh (L) LF
9. Johan Rojas (R) CF