Ace OK

The Phillies played their first summer camp exhibition game last night, and ace Aaron Nola got the start. From all indications, it was a vintage Nola effort.

Nola went five innings, allowed just one hit, walked one and struck out four. He threw 62 pitches, 42 of them for strikes. The only hit he gave up was a single up the middle to Eric Thames.

This is exactly what you hoped to see from Nola in what will probably be his last action until the season starts on Friday. He's the Philies' best pitcher, and he looked like it against the World Series champs. The Phils will need 12 starts just like this one when the 60-game season gets going this week.

A couple of notes from the game—a masked-Didi Greogorius and Bryce Harper both hit three-run homers off Nationals ace Max Scherzer. I know that game doesn't count, but you still have to like seeing that against one of the best pitchers in baseball.