ATLANTA _ The Phillies have debuted six starters since Aaron Nola reached the big leagues in the summer of 2015. Some found success, others floundered. None arrived with the promise that Nola did.
Nola displayed in his first 25 major league starts that he had the chance to be special. But then he struggled. He looked at times this season _ which included a month on the disabled list _ to be just another arm. A 3-1 win Tuesday night over the Braves was a reminder of what Nola may be.
The right-hander allowed one run on five hits in eight innings as the Phillies won their fourth straight game. It was the first time a Phillies starter pitched past the seventh inning since last September, a stretch that covered 68 straight starts. Nola struck out six and walked one. He worked quickly, possessed command of his fastball, and mastered his curveball. He used the breaking pitch to strike out Nick Markakis in the sixth inning.
The right-hander allowed a run in the first inning and then allowed just one other batter to reach second base. He was dominant after recording just nine outs. The Phillies need top-flight arms for their rotation as their rebuilding moves on. The season's final four months will help determine if Nola can fill one of those roles. His first start of June was impressive.
Howie Kendrick homered in the fourth inning, his second since returning last week from the disabled list. Kendrick went 3 for 4 and has 10 hits in his last 27 at-bats after missing 37 games with an oblique injury. His success plus the play of Aaron Altherr will keep it difficult for Pete Mackanin to find playing time for Michael Saunders, whom the Phillies signed in January for $9 million. Saunders was out of Tuesday's lineup and is batting .218 with a .652 OPS in 179 at-bats. His OPS is the 19th worst mark among qualified batters.
"I have four guys that I want to get as much playing time as evenly as possible," Mackanin said. "At this point, I can't justify not playing Kendrick or Altherr or Odubel, at least for today. He's going to get playing time."
Odubel Herrera doubled in Cesar Hernandez in the sixth. The center fielder has nine hits in his last 17 at-bats as he continues to put his slump behind him. Herrera needed one more double to become the first player in baseball history to have two doubles in four straight games. Herrera then scored when Braves starter Jaime Garcia was called for a balk. Freddy Galvis had two hits.
Hector Neris was yanked in the ninth after allowing back-to-back singles with one out. Nola made the first eight innings look easy. The final three outs came with difficulty. Mackanin went with Pat Neshek, who retired both batters he faced to earn his first save since 2015. Neshek has allowed just two runs in 22 innings and 24 of his 25 outings have been scoreless. He could be the team's All-Star.
Nola became the first Phillies starting pitcher to see the eighth inning in nine months. He retired the first two batters of the inning with ease. And then he was tested. Ender Inciarte roped a single to right field. Pitching coach Bob McClure visited the mound and the SunTrust Park fans broke out the tomahawk chop. They finally had reason to cheer and Nola finally had a challenge.
He threw two curveballs to Brandon Phillips before offering a fastball. Phillips laced the pitch to center field and Herrera raced to track it down. The outfielder got under it, leaped, and grabbed the ball with his glove, ending the brief stress of Nola's night. Herrera tossed the ball to the stands almost as soon as his feet touched the grass. Nola's night was finished and a statement was made.
