Aaron Nola was better last night in the Phillies 7-3 win over the Tigers. Nola went six-plus innings and picked up a no-decision. His fastball looked crisper and he was locating it better. His curve ball was hopping. He used his change-up effectively, especially against right-handed batters.
Nola ran out of gas in the sixth inning, but he wasn't dragging his arm and looked healthy, pitching free and easy. That's good news for this summer and beyond.
Maikel Franco delivered again, bashing a bases-clearing double in the right field alley in the seventh inning to give the Phils the lead. Franco has 25 RBIs, tops on the club.
Rhys Hoskins laced a solo home run in the eighth inning , his team leading ninth of the season.
Bryce Harper continues to struggle, going 0-4, his average dropping to .231. I don't worry about Harper. He is a streaky hitter and will get hot. He's a threat in the lineup and effects hitters around him in the batting order.
The Phillies split their two-game series with Detroit. They visit the Tigers for two more games in August. The Phils are now in first place in NL East by two games over the Mets and Braves. They start a weekend series on Friday as the Nationals visit.
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