NEW YORK (AP)— Aaron Nola tossed a four-hitter for his fourth major league shutout, and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the struggling New York Mets 4-0 on Tuesday to complete a two-game sweep.
“He was fantastic.” He had everything going on. He located his fastball. The curveball was very fantastic. “He changed speeds and made soft contact,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “He was really efficient.”
Philadelphia scored twice in the third inning against starter Jose Buttó, with a hit by pitch and a bases-loaded walk. Bryson Stott hit a run-scoring single in the ninth, and Alec Bohm doubled home a run to end with two RBI.
Nola (5-2) handled the rest, delivering 73 of 109 pitches for strikes in his sixth career complete game and first since a five-hit shutout against Cincinnati in August 2022. He had eight strikeouts and no walks. It was the third time in nine starts this season that he went at least eight innings.
“I did feel like the fastball was coming out a little bit better than it has previous starts,” Nola stated. “That really helped. “I think the command was better.”
After allowing a bloop double and a single in the ninth, Nola retired Francisco Lindor on a routine flyball with runners on the corners to close the game. Philadelphia’s sixth shutout matched Cleveland and Boston for the most in the majors.
He carried out the execution. He moved the ball quite effectively. “His curveball was working,” Lindor explained. “Whenever we got good swings on the baseball, they caught it.”
The Phillies extended their major league-leading record to 30-13 and completed their first sweep at Citi Field since a three-game series in April 2013. Philadelphia has won or tied all 12 of its series since April 5, its longest such string since August 1994 to June 1995 (13 series).
New York (19-22) ended a 1-4 homestand against two NL East rivals, dropping to 10-14 at Citi Field after being shut out for the fourth time.
“It’s part of the daily grind,” Lindor explained. “It seems like we are in a month that the uphill fight is even harder.”
The teams go to Philadelphia on Wednesday night to begin another two-game series, the second part of an unusual home-and-home schedule that includes a two-game set in London on June 8-9.
Nola retired his first 15 batters on 59 pitches, 15 of which came in two plate appearances by leadoff guy Brandon Nimmo.
Tyrone Taylor grounded a crisp single on Nola’s first pitch in the sixth, but the right-hander retired the next three batters. Despite giving up a leadoff single to Starling Marte in the seventh, he only needed three pitches to retire the side when Lindor lined out and Pete Alonso grounded.
“That was fun, actually,” Nola remarked with a smile.
Buttó (1-3) needed 97 pitches to get through five innings, 41 of which came in the third. Johan Rojas singled to lead off, and a pair of walks loaded the bases with two out.
Buttó hit Bohm with a pitch to bring in the first run, and then walked Brandon Marsh to force in another.
Buttó allowed only one hit against a depleted Phillies lineup, while Mets pitchers walked eight. This was the seventh time this season that New York have issued at least seven free passes. The staff started the day leading the majors on walks.
TRAINERS’ ROOM
Phillies: 1B. Bryce Harper was a late scratch due to a migraine, but Thomson indicated he was available to pinch hit. C J.T. Realmuto (right knee) missed his third consecutive game, but threw and hit in the batting cage. Thomson said he expects Realmuto to play Wednesday night. Kyle Schwarber (back) returned to the lineup after missing three consecutive starts, though he did pinch hit Monday night. Schwarber doubled, walked twice, and scored two runs in the leadoff spot. C Rafael Marchán (lower back pain) was scheduled to begin a rehabilitation assignment with Class A Clearwater.
Mets: RHP Drew Smith (shoulder soreness) was set to return from the disabled list before the game, but manager Carlos Mendoza said the team decided to wait another day because the bullpen needed more time. LHP Double-A Binghamton’s David Peterson (left hip surgery) was set to make his rehab debut Tuesday night.
UP NEXT
Phillies LHP Ranger Suárez (7-0, 1.50 ERA) leads the majors in wins and WHIP.
Mets: Mendoza said he doesn’t know who will pitch Wednesday because starter Adrian Houser is set to warm up in the eighth.
