Aaron Nola delivers for Philadelphia Phillies in NL East clinching win: "He's a big game pitcher"
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The moment is never too big for Aaron Nola.
If the Phillies need to clinch anything, there seems to be one pitcher on this team who cherishes the opportunity to seal the deal. Even when there is something on the line, you wouldn't know it by his demeanor.
It was just another day at the office. That's vintage Nola.
"I just treat it like another game," Nola said, soaking wet after being drenched with beer from celebrating the Phillies' first division title in 13 years after a 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park Monday night. "All I try to do is give up no runs and go deep in the game like I try to do every time. I honestly don't try to execute anything crazy. I just try to treat this like another game."
When the Phillies needed to wrap up the National League East, there was Nola to answer the call. In his latest superb outing in a clinching game, Nola threw six-plus innings and gave up just two runs while striking out seven and walking two.
In the last seven games Nola could clinch either a postseason berth, division title, or postseason series — he's 4-1 with a 1.62 ERA with 46 strikeouts to seven walks in 44.1 innings pitched.
The moment isn't too big for Nola. Not in the slightest.
"He's a big game pitcher," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. "He steps up when the lights are brightest. I know everyone is talking about the Game 2 pitcher because [Cristopher] Sanchez pitches so well at home. That's a conversation to have, but Nola is a big game guy."
Monday's clincher was just the latest bounce-back outing for Nola. After giving up 10 earned runs combined in consecutive starts, Nola has responded with back-to-back appearances of six-plus innings while allowing two earned runs or fewer.
When the Phillies needed Nola to get right, he answered the call. Now the Phillies have the NL East locked up thanks to Nola, with a magic number of two before to clinch a first-round bye. That's what the Phillies are playing for, and one they admitted they need.
"I think the bye is gonna help a lot of our team," Bryce Harper said. "I think a lot of our guys are kinda grinding through a lot of stuff. Kinda hitting that reset and hitting that pause for a minute."
The cool, calm and collected Nola smiled when the prospect of the bye came to mind.
"I feel like we have some injuries, especially after the All-Star break," Nola said. "It will be good to get some guys some rest."
That's up to Nola's teammates to take care of business in the coming days. Nola did his job to put his team in position to make a World Series run easier, which is all the Phillies can ask for.
"We need to get the bye," Thomson said. "That's really important to us. Having home-field advantage is going to help us quite a bit."
