It was nowhere near Aaron Nola’s best game, but an offense that exploded for 19 runs saved him and he was able to strike out four Atlanta Braves, which moved him ahead of Cole Hamels and into third place on the Phillies list for all-time strikeouts in a career. Nola threw six innings and allowed four earned runs on four hits and three walks. Three of the runs came in the first inning as the Phillies fell behind early and then put five runs on the board in the bottom of the first to take a 5-3 lead that would finish as a 19-4 win.

The strikeout that moved Nola ahead of Hamels came against Ronald Acuna Jr. in the top of the sixth inning.

Phillies All-Time Strikeout Leaders

  1. Steve Carlton – 3,031
  2. Robin Roberts – 1,871
  3. Aaron Nola – 1,845
  4. Cole Hamels – 1,844
  5. Chris Short – 1,585

Nola and Hamels crossed paths briefly in 2015 when Nola was just starting his major league career and Nola was in his final days with the Phillies. On July 25, 2015, Hamels threw a no-hitter against the Cubs in Wrigley Field. At the time, Nola was on the trade block and that start would be his last in a Phillies uniform. Six days after the no-hitter Nola was traded to the Texas Rangers along with reliever Jake Diekman for pitchers Matt Harrison, Jake Thompson, Alec Asher, and Jared Eickhoff plus catcher Jorge Alfaro and outfielder Nick Williams.

Aaron Nola fans Ronald Acuna Jr. in the top of the sixth inning for strikeout number 1,845, which moved him ahead of Cole Hamels and into third place on the Phillies list for career strikeouts. The Phillies won the game 19-4 over the Atlanta Braves.

The Phillies drafted Nola in the first round – seventh overall pick – of the 2014 Draft out of Louisiana State University. The Blue Jays had originally drafted Nola in the 22nd round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, LA, but he did not sign, electing instead to attend LSU.

Nola went on the IL earlier this season with a sprained ankle, marking the first time he had missed a start since 2017.