Philadelphia built a five-run lead through three innings at Citizens Bank Park. Then the fifth inning arrived, and nothing held. Pittsburgh scored six times in that frame to take the lead for good, eventually pulling away for an 11-7 victory that dropped Aaron Nola to 3-5 on the season.
Brandon Marsh was the brightest spot for the Phillies, going 2-for-5 with two home runs and 2 RBI. He hit a solo shot to left center in the eighth to pull Philadelphia within two, but the rally stalled. Marsh carries a .322 average with 14 home runs and 44 RBI on the season. Bryce Harper added a two-run homer to right in the third, and Trea Turner opened the scoring with a solo shot to left in the first.
Pittsburgh's comeback centered on a relentless fifth. Jared Triolo homered to center to make it a two-run game, then Brandon Lowe's sacrifice fly scored Jake Mangum to cut the deficit to one. Ryan O'Hearn singled to left to score Konnor Griffin and tie the game at 5-5. From that tie, Endy Rodriguez walked to score Bryan Reynolds and give Pittsburgh its first lead of the night. Two more runs crossed on a fielder's choice when O'Hearn and Esmerlyn Valdez scored on a throwing error by shortstop Turner, pushing the margin to 8-5. Valdez finished 2-for-3 with a homer, a double, 2 RBI, and 2 walks. Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with a walk, 4 RBI, and a three-run homer to right center in the ninth that put the game out of reach.
Nola lasted just 4.1 innings, allowing 8 runs — 7 earned — on 8 hits with 5 strikeouts and 2 walks on 86 pitches. His ERA stands at 6.04. Braxton Ashcraft earned the win, going 6.0 innings and allowing 5 runs on 5 hits with 8 strikeouts, improving to 8-3 with a 3.33 ERA.
Pittsburgh moved to 42-42 with the win. Philadelphia, despite the loss, remains at 47-37.