3 Phillies most to blame for World Series Game 4 loss to Houston

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Nov 2, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola (27) is removed from the game by manager Rob Thomson (59) during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros in game four of the 2022 World Series at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Aaron Nola

Sure, much of the blame for what happened on Wednesday night will fall to Alvarado, but Nola had his third consecutive shaky postseason start to set the stage for the fifth-inning meltdown.

After allowing no earned runs in his first two starts of the postseason (covering 12.2 innings), Nola has been unable to recreate that magic since, giving up 11 earned runs over his next 13 frames. That includes Houston racking up seven hits against Nola in four innings after struggling to find any kind of offense in the Game 3 loss.

It was two “pitch selection errors,” according to FOX color analyst John Smoltz that led to Nola’s demise on Wednesday night, and that includes giving up a single to Jeremy Peña on a 2-2 pitch on a ball low in the strike zone that loaded the bases and caused Phillies manager Rob Thomson to go to Alvarez.

Nola could still play a big role in this series, with Houston’s Game 4 win ensuring the World Series will head back to Houston and go at least six games. If and when Nola gets back on the mound, Philadelphia will need him to show shades of early in the postseason rather than what he has flashed in recent outings.

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