Folks, I’ve been at the vanguard of calling Aaron Nola an ace in the past. Since the days of his high Cy Young finish, I’ve always felt like he was deserving of the moniker.
Those days are no more.
Plagued by some shoddy defensive player, but not without blame of his own, Nola was unable to hold the lead that the team spotted him early, allowing the Pirates to take a lead they would never relinquish and costing the Phillies a chance to put some distance between them and the Marlins.
At first, it looked like the game might turn out as a pitcher’s duel again.