Philly's Pitching Struggles: Nola's Rough Return

Aaron Nola, the Phillies' ace, had a tough time in his first game back from injury. He gave up six runs in just two and a third innings. The Nationals scored easily, with seven batters in a row reaching base safely. Nola struck out four, but it wasn't enough to stop the hits and walks that hurt his team. Nola has been a reliable pitcher for years, but injuries have slowed him down this season. A sprained ankle and a broken rib kept him out for three months. His return was even more important because another key pitcher, Zack Wheeler, got hurt too. Nola was supposed to start, but the team had to change their plans. The game started well for Nola. He got the first batter out and then retired the next seven in a row. The Phillies built a 6-0 lead, but things fell apart in the third inning. The Nationals hit three singles in a row, then Nola walked a batter and gave up two singles and a double. That tied the game and ended Nola's day. Manager Rob Thomson said Nola was doing well, but the Nationals just kept hitting the ball. Nola's ERA went up to 6. 92 after this game. It wasn't his best performance, but the Phillies still won 11-9. The team made some changes to the roster. Alec Bohm, who also had a broken rib, came back and hit a three-run homer. The Phillies released Cal Stevenson to make room for Nola on the roster. It was a busy day for the team, but not an easy one for Nola.