The Philadelphia Phillies were crushed by the San Francisco Giants 11-4, with Aaron Nola giving up six earned runs. Bryce Harper homered, but the Giants’ offense was too much. Recap the key moments, stats, and what’s next for both teams.
On a night when the Philadelphia Phillies were hoping to keep momentum rolling, they instead ran into a San Francisco Giants team firing on all cylinders—and another tough outing for their $172 million starter. The Phillies fell to the surging Giants, 11-4, in Game 3 of their four-game set at Citizens Bank Park, and starting pitcher Aaron Nola once again took the brunt of the damage.
The Giants came into the game on a tear, and they didn’t let up. With 13 hits and nine walks drawn over the course of nine innings, they overwhelmed Philadelphia’s pitching staff, starting with Nola, who dropped to 0-4 after allowing six earned runs on nine hits in just over five innings. His ERA ballooned to 6.65 through four starts—a concerning trend for the Phillies as they look to contend in the loaded National League East.
Giants’ Offense Lights It Up Early and Often
Jung Hoo Lee led the way for San Francisco, finishing the night with a single, a double, and two RBIs. He was joined by Mike Yastrzemski, Wilmer Flores, and Patrick Bailey—each of whom also drove in two runs apiece. The Giants set the tone early, taking a 4-0 lead by the second inning thanks in part to Bailey’s two-run single.
Even after Bryce Harper delivered a spark with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth—his latest effort to keep the Phillies in contention—the Giants stormed back with seven unanswered runs. The key turning point came in the fifth inning when a throwing error by Phillies center fielder Johan Rojas allowed Lee to score from third, swinging the momentum decisively in San Francisco’s favor.
Nola’s Rough Start to 2025 Continues
Signed to a massive seven-year deal in November 2023, Aaron Nola’s early season struggles have quickly become one of the biggest storylines in Philadelphia. Wednesday night marked the fourth straight game where he failed to find his rhythm. His velocity was down slightly, his command shaky, and the Giants capitalized on nearly every mistake.
Perhaps most alarming was the laborious pace of the first inning. Combined, Nola and Giants starter Robbie Ray threw 74 pitches—only 38 for strikes—and issued six walks. Three of those were with the bases loaded. The inning, which took 36 minutes to complete, set an ominous tone for what would follow.
Bullpen Battle: Giants Shut the Door
While San Francisco’s bullpen has had its shaky moments this season, the trio of Lou Trivino (who picked up his first win), Camilo Doval, and Spencer Bivens combined for five shutout innings to lock down the win. Ray, the Giants’ starter, was tagged for four runs on six hits, but the bullpen’s dominance helped keep the Phillies from mounting any serious comeback attempt.
The loss was a frustrating one for Philadelphia, not only because of the score, but because they were simply outmatched in all phases of the game. Every time the Phillies showed a flicker of hope—like Harper’s home run or a couple of solid contact at-bats from Alec Bohm and Nick Castellanos—the Giants responded with bigger plays and sharper execution.
Key Stat of the Night
36 minutes — That’s how long it took to play the first inning. Between walks, lengthy at-bats, and mound visits, both teams struggled to find early rhythm. But only one team found a way to bounce back from it, and it wasn’t Philadelphia.
What’s Next: Series Finale on Thursday
The Phillies will look to salvage a split in the final game of the four-game series on Thursday afternoon. They’ll send Cristopher Sánchez (1-0, 3.12 ERA) to the mound in hopes of slowing down a red-hot Giants offense. San Francisco will counter with Jordan Hicks (1-1, 5.87 ERA), hoping to carry the momentum from back-to-back wins in Philadelphia into the series finale.
With Bryce Harper swinging the bat well and some positives to draw from the lineup, the Phillies still have time to right the ship—but with Nola’s continued inconsistency and growing pressure from the NL East standings, the urgency is beginning to build.
Around the Horn: What Fans Are Saying
Fans around the city—and across Phillies Nation—are already raising eyebrows at Nola’s slow start after a lucrative contract extension. Some are calling for a shakeup in the rotation or a temporary shift down the order to give him time to recalibrate. Others are hopeful that with time, the veteran right-hander will rediscover the form that made him a mainstay in Philadelphia’s rotation for years.
Either way, the clock is ticking—and the Giants just gave the Phillies a not-so-gentle reminder that the National League won’t wait for anyone to figure things out.
Your Thoughts
How are you feeling about Nola’s early-season performance? Should the Phillies be concerned, or is it still too early to panic? Can Harper’s bat carry this team until the rotation settles down? Let us know in the comments or share your thoughts on social media with #ExploreNewJersey and #PhilliesTalk.
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