Rob Thomson had Tanner Banks ready to go in the bullpen at the first sign of trouble.

But the Phillies manager never needed to make the call. Aaron Nola kept it all under control.

The veteran right-hander had already mowed through five scoreless innings Monday night at Citizens Bank Park to begin a pivotal four-game series against the New York Mets for the National League East race. Enough confidence was there from Thomson to send Nola back out for a sixth, even against the heart of the Mets' order and with the Phillies hanging on to a narrow 1-0 lead.

He rewarded the faith, though.

Nola struck out Juan Soto swinging on four pitches, had Pete Alonso fly out on another four, then fanned Brandon Nimmo on a 1-2 sinker to walk back to the Phillies' dugout with a clean 1-2-3 inning and to a

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