A dominant yet frustrating start from Nola who threw 8 scoreless innings, and still didn’t receive the win. Nola finished the game with 8 innings pitched, allowing only 4 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 8 and collecting 12 swings and misses.
Aaron Nola allowed only an infield single in the first inning, and a two out single in the second inning. Nola pitched a clean third, fourth, and fifth inning. He allowed another infield single in the sixth, and in the seventh Josh Bell hit a leadoff single but nothing came of it. Nola finished his outing with a clean eighth inning.
Nola used his mix of 4-seamers, knuckle curves, and changeups to collect the 12 whiffs. His 4-seamer and knuckle curve combination has been deadly to hitters. His 4-seamer has a -1.5 RV/100, .165 BAA, and has 56% more horizontal break than the average 4-seamer. His knuckle curve also has great numbers with a .198 BAA, 39.4% whiff rate, and a -0.9 RV/100.