© Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Torreyes, Realmuto Help Phillies Mount Comeback Win Against Pirates
Following a 6-4 Atlanta Braves loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier today, it was imperative for the Philadelphia Phillies to secure a win tonight versus the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Aaron Nola was on the bump, and after an easy first inning in which he needed just nine pitches, he needed 40 to get through the second.
With two outs and the bases loaded, Bucs starter Connor Overton was down 0-2. But in his first major league at-bat, Overton was able to connect for a bloop single to left to bring home two runners.
The next batter Nola faced was Ke'Bryan Hayes, who launched a three-run homer to right field to make it 5-0 Pirates in just the second inning.
In their half of the second, the Phils did not promptly respond as Overton struck out the side. It was looking bleak, especially after Nola allowed another solo homer to Colin Moran in the third inning.
But things started looking up after Didi Gregorius hit a towering solo homer to right to put the Phils on the board. His first since Sept. 10.
Philadelphia went on to score four more runs in the inning to make it a 6-5 ballgame in the third.
Since allowing the Moran homerun, Nola then retired 12 batters in a row. He finished the night with 6.0 IP, allowed six runs on six hits, and struck out eight.
For once, the offense showed up for Aaron, and prevented his start from being defined as another instance of "September Nola."
Ronald Torreyes pinch-hit for Nola in the sixth with runners on first and second, and hit a three-run bomb to left to put the Phils up 8-6.
J.T. Realmuto, who remained in the game at catcher after pinch-hitting for Brad Miller, hit an opposite-field two-run blast to make it 10-6 in the seventh.
Realmuto kept it rolling in the eighth when he hit a two-run single to extend the Phillies lead to six.
The Phillies bullpen performed well, and Bailey Falter was able to shutdown Pittsburgh in the ninth to ensure the win. Philadelphia is now 79-74.
Final Score: Phillies 12, Pirates 6
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