Aaron Nola Shines With 9 Strikeouts as Phillies Defeat Twins 3-1 in Philadelphia on September 26, 2025

Friday, September 26th, 2025

Phillies Secure 3-1 Victory Over Twins as Aaron Nola Shines

The Philadelphia Phillies clinched a 3-1 win against the Minnesota Twins on September 26, 2025, with starting pitcher Aaron Nola delivering a standout performance. Nola took a perfect game into the sixth inning, ultimately allowing just two hits and striking out nine over eight innings of work without issuing a walk.

Aaron Nola Makes History and Shows Postseason Potential

Aaron Nola's dominant outing not only contributed to the Phillies’ win but also pushed him into second place on Philadelphia’s all-time career strikeout list. By striking out Edouard Julien to end the fifth inning, Nola reached 1,872 strikeouts, surpassing Hall of Famer Robin Roberts and trailing only Steve Carlton.

Despite dealing with ankle and rib injuries throughout a challenging season, Nola has proven valuable in high-stakes games. Even though he was not named as one of the three scheduled starters for the upcoming NL Division Series, Phillies manager Rob Thomson indicated Nola could be considered for a bullpen role during the postseason—a scenario Nola has never experienced in his major league career spanning 285 appearances.

Game Highlights

Nola’s bid for a perfect game ended in the sixth when Christian Vázquez hit a solo home run, narrowing the Phillies’ lead to 2-1. However, Edmundo Sosa extended Philadelphia’s advantage with a solo homer off Twins starter Joe Ryan in the fifth. Alec Bohm opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the first inning, and Brandon Marsh added an insurance run with an RBI double in the sixth.

Key Moment

In the top of the ninth, Twins closer Jhoan Duran sealed Philadelphia’s victory by retiring Trevor Larnach with two runners on base, recording his 32nd save of the season.

Key Stat

The Phillies honored an MLB milestone as they celebrated Bobby Shantz's 100th birthday. Shantz, the 1952 AL MVP with the Philadelphia Athletics, is the oldest living Phillie, the oldest living All-Star, and the second-oldest living MLB player.

Up Next

Former Phillie Mick Abel (2-4, 7.36 ERA), now pitching for the Twins after being traded at the deadline, is set to face his old team for the first time. Abel impressed in his debut against Pittsburgh with nine strikeouts. The Phillies will send left-hander Ranger Suárez (12-7, 3.12 ERA) to the mound.

In summary

The Philadelphia Phillies continued their impressive run with a 3-1 win over the Minnesota Twins, highlighted by Aaron Nola’s near-perfect performance and historic rise up the franchise strikeout leaderboard. Key offensive contributions from Edmundo Sosa, Alec Bohm, and Brandon Marsh supported the effort, while the team also paid tribute to Bobby Shantz on his centennial birthday. The victory adds momentum heading into the postseason, with Nola’s role a storyline to watch. Next up, the Phillies and Twins are set for another intriguing matchup as former teammates face off on the mound.

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