What’s In a Name? Phillies 1, Marlins 0
The Phillies get some Junk mail, but Nola provides the firewall
May 4, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola (27) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Names are a funny thing. Today’s Phillies starter has a name that accurately describes him: Aaron Nola is from Louisiana, where one can find New Orleans, or NOLA (he’s from Baton Rouge, but I have a good time with these puns, so I’m gonna laissez les bons temps rouler).
Today’s Marlins starter has a name, that, unfortunately for the Phillies, did not describe him accurately: the quality of Janson Junk’s offerings was quite high today. Also, he’s not a junkballer, which seems like a tremendous missed opportunity. The Phillies put Bryce Harper aboard against Junk via two-out double in the first, though couldn’t plate him.
Similarly, the Marlins put one aboard against Nola, with the other three batters making outs. The Phillies made a bit of progress in the second, putting two aboard, as Brandon Marsh smacked a single to right, and Alec Bohm reached on a bobbled ball error from Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez. But the end result was the same as their first frame, as they scored no runs.
The inning ended when Justin Crawford fought Junk across nine pitches, ultimately grounding out to second. The pattern was clear, and it was beautiful: one runner in the first, two runners in the second. If it held, the Phillies would get three in the third, then the Phillies would get their fourth baserunner, and their first run, in the fourth.