DENVER _ The fastball slipped from Aaron Nola's hand on Saturday night, tailed inside, and smacked the arm of Rockies batter Mark Reynolds.
It was only the third inning of Saturday's 8-5 win at Coors Field but it was difficult then _ as the Rockies loaded the bases with one out _ to imagine that this would be the night for Nola to perhaps right his season. He had already allowed three runs, his command was off, his curveball was flat, and the Rockies were hitting him hard.
Now the bases were loaded.
Nola, up against the ropes, escaped. He froze the next batter, Raimel Tapia, with a knee-buckling curveball. He then used a change-up to whiff Garrett Hampson. All it took Saturday for Nola to find himself was a bit of adversity. He pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowed three runs on nine hits, and struck out nine with one walk. Saturday night, Nola's fifth start of the season, felt like something for the Phillies' ace to build off.
He finished strong as seven of his nine strikeouts came after he loaded the bases in the third inning. Nola's curveball suddenly regained its signature break and his fastball sharpened. His first pitch of the game became a homer to right field. His first pitch of the second inning was an inside-the-park homer. It was a rough start, but the finish proved better.
Phil Gosselin, inserted into the lineup after Jean Segura and Scott Kingery were placed on the injured list, hit a three-run double off the right-field wall to put the Phillies ahead by a run in the fourth. The Phillies need Gosselin to help fortify their infield as they wait at least a week for Segura to return. He did his job in start No. 1.
"Collectively as a group we talk about rallying around each other in times of adversity," Kapler said before the game. "Now is that time. This is real adversity. You have key members of your team on the IL. That is clearly a sign that we need people to step up perform and lead."
Gosselin gave the Phillies the lead and Bryce Harper provided some protection with a three-run homer with two outs in the seventh to give the bullpen a four-run lead.
They would need it. Adam Morgan earned the last out of the sixth and Seranthony Dominguez handled the seventh. But Pat Neshek allowed two runs in the eighth and recorded just one out. Hector Neris then nearly gave up a tying two-run homer to Trevor Story but the pitch missed the foul pole by a couple of inches. Neris retired Story to end the eighth, Andrew McCutchen homered in the top of the ninth to provide some more room to breathe, and Neris closed out the win.
Harper has reached base in all 20 games this season. It is the second straight year the Phillies had a player begin the season with a 20-game on-base streak. Odubel Herrera began last year by reaching base in the first 41 games. The only other time that happened in consecutive seasons was Gary Maddox in 1976 and Richie Hebner in 1977.
Nola had just one swing and miss on the 39 pitches he threw before loading the bases in the third inning. He would throw 58 more pitches and generate eight empty swings. Nola, after spending the previous four days dissecting his starts, seemed to turn a corner. He gained momentum as the night rolled on and began the sixth inning by striking out Drew Butera on a curveball. He then struck out pinch-hitter Pat Valaika with another curveball.
For the Phillies, that was enough. Nola had thrown 97 pitches. Kapler came to the mound, took the ball, and slapped his pitcher on the back. Nola left the mound Saturday night with a start to build off. And that was hard to imagine just three innings earlier.
