Nola sharp in final tune-up
Aaron Nola wished he had gone a little longer in his final exhibition outing, but the 22-year-old Phillies righthander was more than satisfied with his abbreviated stint.
Aaron Nola wished he had gone a little longer in his final exhibition outing, but the 22-year-old Phillies righthander was more than satisfied with his abbreviated stint.
Nola threw three innings Friday in an 8-7 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Citizens Bank Park but was taken out of the contest during a 39-minute rain delay. He allowed one unearned run on one hit, striking out five, walking one and throwing 53 pitches, 34 for strikes. He said the plan was to throw between 50 and 70 pitches.
Next, Nola will pitch for keeps in the Phillies' second game of the season Wednesday in Cincinnati against the Reds.
"I felt like I was commanding my fastball and started working on my change-up in the third inning," Nola said. "My command from all my pitches felt pretty good."
Nola, who ended with a 4.42 ERA in 181/3 spring innings, began last season in double-A Reading. The Phillies' first-round draft choice in 2014, Nola also pitched at Lehigh Valley before going 6-2 with a 3.59 in 13 starts for Phillies. Naturally, he can't wait to get started.
"My body feels good, I am healthy, my arm feels really good," Nola said. "Those are the main aspects and I will try to keep healthy."
The Phillies received towering home runs from Maikel Franco, Ryan Howard and Darin Ruf.
Four sent down
The Phillies reassigned four players to the minor leagues after the game: catcher J.P. Arencibia, outfielder Will Venable, and righthanders Andrew Bailey and Ernesto Frieri.
Bailey, the product of Paul VI and a two-time all-star with the Oakland A's, pitched two scoreless innings Friday, but manager Pete Mackanin says he was looking for more consistency. "We need him to go down there and improve his command," Mackanin said.
Frieri had an ERA of 11.57 this spring.
Venable was signed by the Phillies on March 28. Mackanin said the team had not seen enough of him in that short time.
Arencibia will provide catching depth in the minors.
Hernandez's role
On Thursday, Mackanin suggested that he may begin the year by having a closer by committee.
Righthander David Hernandez, who pitched for Arizona last season, was the favorite to earn the closer's role after being signing a one-year, $3.9 million deal.
Hernandez, 30, was slowed in spring training by triceps tendinitis, but he says he is fine now.
"I feel good," Hernandez said before the game. "There are times when throwing that it starts barking, but it is night and day from where it was."
Hernandez missed the 2014 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He returned midway through last year, making 40 appearances with a 4.28 ERA for Arizona.
Entering Friday, in four spring appearances covering four innings, Hernandez had a 2.25 ERA and had three strikeouts and no walks.
Hernandez, who has 19 career saves, says it makes it easier for any reliever to know his role, but he also knows that sometimes he just has to roll with the punches.
"I have done it all, so I will be ready," he said.
Goeddel waiting
Even though Mackanin suggested Thursday that outfielder Tyler Goeddel would be with the Phillies on opening day, the Rule 5 selection from the Tampa Bay Rays says he hadn't been told anything for sure.
"I know they have tough decisions to make and I did everything I could and we will see what happens," Goeddel said.
Goeddel, 23, had been a shortstop and third baseman until playing all three outfield positions last year for double-A Montgomery.
"Since moving to the outfield last year, I feel I can use my speed more than in the infield," he said. "We play in a lot of big parks and being able to cover a lot of ground is definitely an asset."
Hearing the decision on his fate can't come soon enough for Goeddel.
"I am definitely anxious and excited," he said. "We'll see what happens."