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Aaron Nola fails to last two innings in spring finale

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Aaron Nola struck out three formidable Blue Jays - Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Kendrys Morales - in the first inning Tuesday night.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Aaron Nola struck out three formidable Blue Jays - Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Kendrys Morales - in the first inning Tuesday night.

He did not complete another inning.

It was an inauspicious Grapefruit League finale for Nola, the Phillies player under the most scrutiny this spring because of the right elbow injury that shortened his 2016 season. He allowed five runs in 12/3 innings against Toronto's regular lineup. The Blue Jays hit him hard; four of the seven Toronto hits were for extra bases in a 10-4 victory. He threw 51 pitches.

"I mean, tough night. For sure," Nola said. "I felt great. That's probably the best I've felt all spring. I did leave some balls up and some balls over the plate. They put some good swings on them."

Nola finished the spring with an 8.3I6 ERA in 191/3 innings. He will begin the season encouraged, however, because his elbow does not hurt. But he lacks the results to instill confidence. There are some things, Nola said, that he must still improve. Fastball command is one.

"His velocity is way up," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "His arm is healthy. The command just isn't there."

The 23-year-old righthander will stay behind when the team leaves Florida on Friday. He will pitch in a minor-league game Sunday, join the team Monday in Cincinnati for opening day, and pitch April 8 at Citizens Bank Park against Washington.

"People say it's spring training, but nobody wants to go out there and give up runs, you know?" Nola said. "I'm always going to try and go out there and give everything I've got."

Asher traded

The Phillies cleared an important spot on their 40-man roster by trading righthander Alec Asher to the Baltimore Orioles for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Asher, 25, became expendable as the Phillies collected upper-level pitching prospects with similar profiles. He came to the Phillies from Texas as part of the Cole Hamels trade in 2015.

"By no means is us trading him any indication of us not liking him," Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said. "Far, far from it. . . . The volume of upper-level starting pitching seems to be an area of depth for us and we've known all along that we may have to deal from that surplus to address another position or to clear a spot for somebody else."

Asher had a 5.88 ERA in 12 games with the Phillies over the last two seasons. He was suspended 80 games last season after he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

Bullpen picture

The final bullpen spots will be filled by two of three arms: Adam Morgan, Joely Rodriguez, and Luis Garcia. The Phillies want at least one lefty, which bodes well for Morgan or Rodriguez. The team will play two split-squad games Wednesday; Rodriguez and Garcia will be the starters.

Extra bases

The Phillies informed relievers Pat Venditte, Colton Murray, Hoby Milner and Cesar Ramos and shortstop Pedro Florimon that they will begin the season at triple-A Lehigh Valley but remain in big-league camp this week. . . . Catcher Ryan Hanigan, released by the Phillies on Monday, signed a minor-league deal with Colorado on Tuesday.