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Braves, Keuchel Outdone By Nola, Phillies In Tight Pitching Contest

By Deke Lloyd

MIAMI, FL - JULY 23: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves returns the the dugout after in the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on July 23, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JULY 23: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves returns the the dugout after in the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on July 23, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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The Braves bats were silenced by Aaron Nola. Dallas Keuchel went head to head with Nola, pitching his best game of the season, but in the end, was bested by a Jay Bruce double and Nola’s stellar performance.

Yesterday, I briefly spoke about Dallas Keuchel and the game against the Phillies being his biggest test as a Braves player yet. I wondered if the first two starts of Keuchel’s Braves tenure would have better prepared him for this matchup against their chief NL East foe and the team on their heels, the Philadelphia Phillies. Well, Keuchel stepped up in a big way against the Phillies. Keuchel went seven innings, the longest start in his early Braves career, and was much more economical about this start, only needing 97 pitches to go seven innings. In his first start of the season, Keuchel needed 99 pitches to go five innings against the Washington Nationals. Keuchel needed to step up, and he did not disappoint.

Unfortunately, for Keuchel and the Braves, his good efforts were for naught. Keuchel gave up a double to Jay Bruce, scoring two runs for the Phillies, and that was enough for Aaron Nola. Nola was outstanding in 8 innings, giving up four hits and striking out eight compared to three walks. The Braves were inefficient when they did get chances to touch up Nola. The Braves were 0-6 with runners in scoring positions, with Acuna, Albies, and Riley all coming up empty.

With the loss, the Braves NL East lead is now 4.5 games. That does not cause for concern, yet, but if the Phillies can shave off another game before this series is over, the Braves will be going in the All-Star break in a tighter race with the Phillies than Braves fans thought we would be in at this point. As of late, the Braves have been playing such good baseball it would feel funny if the Braves are only separated by a game or two from the Phillies. Aaron Nola did give the Phillies a superb start, and the Braves can count on that not happening again. The Braves offense have been too good. I don’t expect the Braves to be blanked like that again.

Tonight, the Braves will send Bryse Wilson to make his third start of the season. Wilson will be opposite of Nick Pivetta, the current owner of an ERA over 5. The Braves will look for the bats to wake back up tonight and try to extend their NL East lead back to 5.5. First pitch tonight is at 7:20.

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