Phillies MLB Opening Day 2019: Four things we learned from a big win

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 28: Starting pitcher Aaron Nola #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies delivers a pitching the first inning against the Atlanta Braves on Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park on March 28, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /

Aaron Nola ramps up as the game goes on

In 2018, if you didn’t get to Aaron Nola early, you likely weren’t going to get to him at all. In 33 first innings last year, Nola had a 4.36 ERA. In every other inning he pitched combined, he had a 2.02 ERA.

While the Braves could not get to Nola in the first inning, they were able to in the second thanks to some small ball. Ronald Acuna walked and stole second base to open up the inning. Nick Markakis poked a single through the right side of the single to score Acuna, providing Atlanta’s only run against Nola.

From then on, Nola only allowed one more hit and struck out seven more batters. His pitches looked better and better as the game went on, making batter after batter just look foolish.

Just tossing the frisbee around. #GeauxPhils pic.twitter.com/5bsB5uEI70
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 28, 2019

While Nola was pretty much unhittable (just two allowed all game) his control wavered at times. He walked five batters total, a career high for the 25-year-old. Three of those walks came in the second inning, but Nola was able to escape with only one run allowed.