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Aaron Nola’s Triple-A Performance Shows He’s Nearly Ready For Philadelphia Phillies

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Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies,

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

To put what Aaron Nola did on Thursday night into perspective, on the same day the Philadelphia Phillies broke a nine-game losing streak, called up a Triple-A pitcher and announced Cole Hamels was injured, Nola’s performance was still the biggest news of the day.

That is because Nola—a year removed from dominating the highest levels of college baseball and after a couple of months of doing the same in Double-A—pitched five scoreless innings for the Phillies Triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley (Pa.) IronPigs in a 3-0 win over the Buffalo Bisons. It was only five innings because the Phillies are treating Nola like a piece of fine China these days—taking him out and admiring him before gently putting him back. They do not want to do anything to damage his young arm before he gets called up to the majors.

All indications are that Nola is ready, but the Phillies have the luxury of waiting until he proves to be just as dominating against Triple-A hitters as he was against his previous competition.  Nola struck out seven batters and walked just one. He scattered four hits and threw 98 pitches, 66 of which were for strikes. Nola started 12 times this season with Double-A Reading before he was promoted on Sunday. He had a 1.88 ERA in 76.2 innings, with 59 strikeouts and nine walks. By comparison, Phillippe Aumont, who was called up from the IronPigs to start for the Phillies tonight, was 3-4 with a 2.35 ERA in Triple-A. Aumont had to be called up because the Phillies announced that Hamels will miss a start due to a pulled hamstring.

A year ago, Nola was 10-1 in LSU’s regular season in a conference, the SEC, considered to be among the best in college baseball. He has been successful every place he has pitched, and the Phillies just want to be sure about Triple-A before making it the final stop before Philadelphia.

If his next few nights are like his first night was, it will not be long before he hops in the car and makes that short trip south.

Mike Gibson is a Phillies writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @papreps , “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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