By Field Level Media
Sep 01 (Field Level Media) – Bryson Stott hit a 464-foot homer, Aaron Nola won for the third time in four starts, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 in Phoenix on Monday to remain tied for the top National League wild-card spot.
Bryce Harper had two hits and extended his career-high on-base streak to 33 games with an RBI double as the Phillies wrapped up August at 21-7, the best record in the majors.
The Phillies have won five in a row and 14 of 16.
Gabriel Moreno had two hits, including an RBI double, and Ryan Waldschmidt also produced two hits for the D-backs, who had won two of three.
D-backs designated hitter Ketel Marte went 1-for-3 with a walk in his return after missing 13 games, three while on the restricted list after failing to show up for an Aug. 17 game in Boston and 10 on the injured list with left knee inflammation.
Marte was booed in his first at-bat, a groundout to first base in the second inning, but cheered after an eighth-inning single. He spoke to his teammates and addressed the media before the game.
The Phillies (78-60) remained in a tie with the Chicago Cubs (78-60) for the top National League wild-card spot. The D-backs (73-66) fell one-half game behind the San Diego Padres (73-65) for the final wild card.
Jhoan Duran pitched around two infield singles and a wild pitch in the ninth for his 29th save.
Waldschmidt singled into the hole at short with one out and Corbin Carroll beat out a chopper over the mound with two outs. Waldschmidt took third on a wild pitch before Duran got Moreno to ground out.
The D-backs left 11 on base and were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Nola (6-10) gave up one run and five hits in five-plus innings, with four strikeouts and two walks. Moreno singled and Marte walked to open the sixth, but Alex McFarlane entered and retired the side. Nola went 3-1 with a 2.65 ERA in six August starts.
Arizona right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (7-2) gave up five hits and two runs in six innings, with one walk and one strikeout.
Stott homered with one out in the second to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. In the third, Harper’s one-out double off the center field fence brought in Garrett Stubbs to make it 2-0.
Geraldo Perdomo singled with one out in the bottom of the third and scored on Moreno’s two-out double down the left field line, closing the gap to 2-1.
(–Field Level Media)
