Nola dominates for Italy as five more Phillies head to World Baseball Classic knockout
As if the stakes could not have been much higher for March, Aaron Nola had the fate of more than just 29 Team Italy teammates largely in his hands on Wednesday night.
He had three more teammates — Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Brad Keller — depending on him, as did the rest of Team USA. Italy and Mexico’s pool play finale could have sent any two of those three teams to the knockout stage, but the easiest route for Italy and the United States was for Italy to win, no matter the score.
Nola and Italy delivered. The Phillies right-hander threw five innings of shutout ball against Mexico, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out five. It was more than enough to protect a cushion that had swelled to 5-0 by the time he threw his last pitch, then ballooned to 9-1 with the second and third Vinnie Pasquantino homers.
Italy’s nine runs, but really just its first five, are why Nola’s start wasn’t exactly imperative for the United States. Assuming the game didn’t go to extra innings, Harper, Schwarber, Keller and co. would move on to the knockout stage once either team scored its fifth run. (So, in theory, Nola having a rough enough night could’ve done the trick, too.)
Of course, Italy had itself in mind. Even after starting pool play 3-0, including a shocking win over a mismanaged United States on Tuesday, the only way Italy could guarantee a spot in the bracket was by beating Mexico.
Nola seemed accordingly amped.
It’s a good sign for Nola in what’s been a promising March. His other start, for the Phillies but against a Canadian team that went on to win Pool A, was a three-inning, one-hit, shutout performance. If you’re a believer in Even Year Nola, you’ve been given extra confidence.
Nola’s performance also extends the Classic for Dante Nori, the Phillies’ No. 7 prospect (according to MLB.com) and new Team Italy star. Nori hit two homers in his WBC debut on Saturday, then had two more hits against Great Britain on Sunday. The outfielder hit .500 with a 1.616 OPS in pool play.
Nori and Italy will play Pool A runner-up Puerto Rico in the quarterfinal.
The United States, in a perfect act of poetry after the team was vocally inspired by American wins over Canada in each Olympic hockey gold medal match, will face off against Canada in the quarterfinals.
If the teams face each other again in this WBC, it will be in the final.
Nola is likely done for the tournament, so it’s likely out of his hands now. That was certainly not the case on Wednesday, and he made it count.