SAN DIEGO – Austin Nola threw a single field RBI opposite to the right of his little brother Aaron, turned to the San Diego Padres dugout and raised his right fist.
This was the measure of emotion in fraternal confrontation.
Aaron Nola, 29, returned to work and retired the next two batters, and Austin Nola’s Fathers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 1-0.
“I’m glad we got the win, but then your brother gets the defeat,” said Austin Nola, a 32-year-old receiver from the Padres. “He threw an amazing game. It’s fun to watch. There’s no doubt about it. He’s done it to us twice. He threw seven innings; he threw eight innings last year. What a performance from him.
“It simply came to our notice then. I got hit and said, “Oh, I feel really good,” and then I look at him and he’s closed again, he’s going after the next batter. Credit to him. Nothing ever baffles him, “he added.
“Yeah, I’ll hear it tonight,” Aaron joked to reporters. “It runs through my mouth a lot.”
It is the first time a player has had a run against his brother in a 1-0 victory since the drives became an official statistic in 1920, according to STATS.
“The story is there, right?” Said Parent Manager Bob Melvin. “Baseball can be a great game in cases like this. It can break your heart other times. This is just great theater. The only game-driven run against your brother, is a very interesting thing.”
San Diego left-wing debutant MacKenzie Gore and three relievers combined in a five hit. Closer Taylor Rogers loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth before making Kyle Schwarber fly to center field.
Austin (left) and Aaron NolaGetty Images (2)
Austin Nola had been 0 of 4 against his brother in two seasons until he threw an opposing field single to the right with an out in the sixth to incorporate Eric Hosmer, who was on board in a one-out double.
Aaron Nola, 29, kept the Padres ’balance sheet for the first five innings, including the withdrawal of his 32-year-old brother with a run in the second and a punchout in the fourth.
“I was behind 0-2 all game against him,” Austin said. “I have been 0-2 for the last two years. It’s nothing new. That’s what he does. You see its competitive side. That’s what makes him an elite. “
The Nolas first faced off as professionals on August 21st. They grew up in Baton Rouge and both played at LSU.
Aside from being overtaken by his brother, Aaron Nola (4-5) pitched well. He allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings while putting up 10 and walking two.
“Facing it is exhausting because, from a capture standpoint, you have your pitcher and your pitcher through that, and then you have to switch to the fact that I’m now facing my brother in a major league game and he doesn’t stop. ”Austin Nola said. “So you like to mentally jump from one to another of, ‘Okay, I have to help MacKenzie get over this,’ and then, boom, it’ll come right after you.”
Gore put on four and walked four. He struggled with his control in the third inning and loaded the bases with two passes and a single before making Bryce Harper fly to the left to finish off the inning.
Nabil Crismatt (4-0) threw two perfect innings for the win. Luis Garcia hit the heart of the order in the eighth. Rogers loaded the bases with two outs by allowing consecutive singles from an out and then walked pinch-hitter Yairo Munoz with two outs before retiring Schwarber for his 22nd save.
The Padres had retired 12 batters in a row until Alec Bohm made a single with an out in the ninth.