Aaron Nola Shuts Down Mets as Phillies Edge 1-0 Win

The Philadelphia Phillies tightened their grip on the NL East race Monday night with a hard-fought 1-0 win over the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park.

This one was tense—a true pitcher’s duel. Aaron Nola’s return to form and a clutch hit from Nick Castellanos made the difference.

For the Phillies, beating the Mets felt overdue. The win inched them closer to both a playoff spot and the division title, and now the series feels like it could go anywhere.

Aaron Nola’s Best Start of a Difficult Season

Aaron Nola came in hoping to shake off what’s been, honestly, a pretty rough 2025 so far. What happened next? He put together his sharpest outing of the year.

Nola threw six scoreless innings. He struck out seven and kept New York hitters guessing all night.

Commanding the Mound After Injury

Coming off an ankle injury, Nola leaned on his fastball and changeup, but he mixed in curveballs and cutters too. The most memorable moment? He froze Juan Soto with a cutter for a huge strikeout—Soto probably didn’t expect that pitch from him.

This was Nola’s first scoreless start since May 3. It had to feel good for him, and the Phillies’ rotation needed it with October looming.

The Lone Run That Made the Difference

Both teams’ pitchers kept things tight, so the only run came early in the second. Max Kepler and Harrison Bader got on base with back-to-back hits, setting the stage for Nick Castellanos.

Castellanos’ First-Pitch Success Continues

Castellanos jumped on the first pitch and lined an RBI single, bringing Kepler home. He’s been thriving in these moments—batting .424 when he puts the first pitch in play. That number keeps paying off.

A Rookie Sensation Holds His Ground

On the Mets’ side, rookie Nolan McLean kept impressing. He came in with a 1.36 ERA and gave up just one run over 5 1/3 innings. The kid’s got poise and power—hard not to notice.

McLean’s Composure in High Stakes

McLean took the loss, but he showed real resilience. Mets fans have to be excited with what they’re seeing from him. Maybe he’s their next ace in the making?

Philadelphia’s Bullpen Slams the Door

Nola handed over a slim lead, and the Phillies’ bullpen had to be perfect. David Robertson struck out two in a scoreless seventh.

Bryson Stott made a highlight-reel play in the eighth, diving to rob Soto. That one had everyone out of their seats.

Duran Survives Ninth-Inning Drama

Closer Jhoan Duran made it interesting in the ninth, loading the bases. Somehow, he struck out Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez to end it.

The crowd exploded as the final pitch zipped past Alvarez. It might’ve been the tensest inning of the Phillies’ year.

What This Win Means for the Phillies

The win pushed Philadelphia’s record to 84-60. They’re now up by eight games over the Mets in the NL East.

The magic number is down to seven for a playoff spot and 11 for the division. There’s still work to do, but this one felt big.

• Snapped nearly a year-long stretch of Mets dominance over the Phillies.
• Solidified Nola’s role heading into the postseason following injury concerns.
• Highlight reel defensive plays showed postseason readiness.
• Kept momentum in a heated rivalry series with three critical games still ahead.

A Rivalry Far From Over

Three games remain in this set. The Phillies could just about crush the Mets’ division hopes if they keep winning.

For New York, every game now feels like a must-win. Philadelphia, meanwhile, wants to build playoff momentum and lock down the NL East.

Monday night showed they’re ready to take on that challenge.

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Here is the source article for this story: Nola silences Mets as Phillies squeak out 1-0 nail biter