That’s just how expectations go for first-round picks. In his first start back, Buchanan threw five innings of one-run ball in a no-decision against the Giants.
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Buchanan was making his second big-league start since April 30 and was coming off an encouraging five-inning performance in San Francisco. “I feel like the team’s getting better as the days go on and I’m just glad I’m here”, Nola said.
Cesar Hernandez was 2-for-4 with a triple a double two RBIs and a run scored.
Interim manager said Buchanan took his demotion in stride. “We had a 2-0 lead”.
Gonzalez began his major-league career with 5⅔ shutout innings against the Red Sox, and then followed it up with a complete game shutout in Kansas City, one of the best-hitting clubs in baseball.
Besides Karns, only two other batters reached second base.
But when Matt Moore threw a wild pitch, Francoeur raced for home and scored, so discombobulating Moore that he would walk Buchanan. “He really knew how to pitch by the way he pitched to hitters and got guys out”.
Similar to many college pitchers drafted in the first round, Nola has rocketed through the Phillies’ organization. “I wanted to keep them off the board, and they got a three-spot”.
It was the first regular-season meeting since 2012 between the clubs that played in the 2008 World Series, with Philadelphia winning in five games.
“He kind of quit running”, Mackanin said. “It was a good, clean play. That’s baseball”.
And first baseman James Loney, normally sure-handed, made two errors in the fateful fifth.
In another postgame formality move, Chad Billingsley officially was sent to the disabled list to clear room for Nola. Deemed by many as the beginning of the future for the struggling Phillies, Nola projects to be a pitcher who will be a mainstay in the starting rotation for years to come. Franco was lifted after the eighth inning due to right elbow soreness. He led off the third inning with a homer to left.
Rays: LHP Drew Smyly (torn left labrum) will pitch a simulated game on Tuesday in Charlotte. Before Tuesday’s game, right-hander Jerome Williams will be activated from the DL and for now he will work out of the bullpen.
Outfielder Jeff Francoeur didn’t wait long to toss a little good-natured pressure to touted pitching prospect Aaron Nola, who is debuting in the majors Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park against the Tampa Bay Rays. Even with the good outing in which Buchanan allowed three runs and six hits, the Phillies optioned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after the game.
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“We didn’t pitch well and we didn’t hit well”, Rays manager said.
