Aaron Nola threw seven scoreless innings and Nick Castellanos hit a three-run homer, helping the Philadelphia Phillies secure a 5-0 victory over the Houston Astros for their fourth consecutive win. The Phillies have shown improvement in their performance over the last two weeks, winning crucial games against Kansas City and Houston. They have won eight of their last 13 games and are holding a comfortable lead in the NL East, sitting six games ahead of Atlanta.
Nola, who had not won in his past seven starts, finally broke his winless streak by delivering a strong performance against the Astros. He received ample run support as the Phillies scored four runs off Justin Verlander in the third inning. Verlander, the oldest active pitcher in the major leagues at 41, struggled against the Phillies, allowing four runs and seven hits in five innings.
In addition to Castellanos’ three-run homer, Trea Turner and Bryce Harper contributed offensively, with Alec Bohm adding an RBI single in the seventh inning. Nola’s exceptional outing was further supported by solid performances from relief pitchers José Ruiz and Tanner Banks.
The Phillies’ victory was a boost for the team and its fans, as they displayed a return to form reminiscent of their strong performance in the first half of the season. Looking ahead, the Astros will face off against the Phillies in the next game, with Spencer Arrighetti pitching for Houston and Taijuan Walker taking the mound for Philadelphia. Walker will be aiming to secure his first win since May 22 after a challenging streak of eight consecutive losses.
