Brothers Aaron and Austin Nola made history by renewing an old rivalry Wednesday.
When Aaron, the Philadelphia Phillies starter, faced San Diego Padres catcher Austin in NLCS Game 2, the two became the first brothers to face each other as pitcher and batter in MLB postseason history.
Austin, 32, is four years older than Aaron, who was seeking payback from his brother for years of being dominated.
“He never let me win at anything we played,” Aaron Nola said (via MLB.com) ahead of the matchup. “No matter what we did, or what we played, what sport it was, I didn’t win.
“Growing up, I always wanted to be as good as him.”
San Diego’s Nola grounded out to third base in the second inning. But in the fifth, Austin was up to his old tricks of being the unbeatable big bro, lining an RBI single off Aaron to cut the Phillies’ lead to 4-3. The Padres catcher then scored on a Juan Soto double.
Austin Nola with an RBI single vs Aaron Nola!
#NLCS pic.twitter.com/WnVYcrdpvY — The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 19, 2022
The Padres ended up scoring five runs in the inning to knock out Nola (4 2/3 innings, seven hits, six runs) and take a commanding 7-4 lead.
But the brother vs. brother angle was fun while it lasted.
MLB fans on Twitter felt sympathy for the family’s mixed emotions.
“Thanksgiving is gonna be so awkward after Austin Nola did that to Aaron,” read one Tweet.
NOLA FATHER: i will support my sons by wearing an austin nola jersey and hat, and an aaron nola jersey over my austin nola jersey
NOLA MOTHER: i will support neither of my awful, awful sons pic.twitter.com/n9P8Xsm3f7
— Bill Hanstock (@sundownmotel) October 19, 2022
https://twitter.com/BlitzGuyOG/status/1582865709205401600
https://twitter.com/QuiIvioVergas/status/1582868822087782401
[ESPN]
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.