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The Philadelphia Phillies are first place in the National League East

Published  May 26, 2018 8:34pm EDT
U.S.
FOX 29 Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Aaron Nola took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, Nick Williams hit his third pinch-hit homer of the year in the eighth and the Philadelphia Phillies moved into first in the NL East Saturday with a 2-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Nola did not allow a hit until Russell Martin's RBI single to left in the seventh, which tied the game at 1. After cruising through the first six innings, Nola came back out to work the seventh after a brief rain delay -- the second of the game -- and walked Justin Smoak with one out before Martin came through, ending the right-hander's day.

Nola struck out 10 and walked three. He threw 113 pitches, matching a career high set on June 27, 2017.

Williams turned on an 0-1 cutter from Joe Biagini (0-4) to break the tie and allow Philadelphia to take a half-game lead over Atlanta in the NL East. It was the latest in a season the Phillies had been in first since the conclusion of the 2011 season, when they won 102 games.

Saranthony Dominguez (1-0) allowed one hit in 1 1/3 innings for his first major league win. Luis Garcia worked the ninth for his first save in his second opportunity.

Jaime Garcia allowed five hits in seven innings and gave up his only run on Maikel Franco's homer leading off the fifth.

Williams leads the majors in pinch-hit RBIs (8) and total bases (19). His three pinch-hit homers tied Miami's Justin Boar for tops in baseball.

TRYING SOMETHING NEW

Martin played his first career game at shortstop. The longtime catcher has made 33 appearances at third base and four at second. The Blue Jays have used seven players at shortstop this season.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: LHP J.A. Happ (6-3, 3.97 ERA) will return to the place his career started. Happ pitched with the Phillies in 2009-10 before being packaged as part of the trade that landed Roy Oswalt in Philadelphia. Happ went seven innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits, in the Blue Jays' win over the Angels on Tuesday.

Phillies: RHP Nick Pivetta (4-2, 3.23) has won his last three starts, allowing one earned run in 19 innings while striking out 25 and walking two. The 25-year-old native of Victoria, British Columbia, will be making his first career start against the Blue Jays.