Phils No. 2 prospect Nola hurls five scoreless innings

Right-hander Aaron Nola, the Phillies' No. 2 prospect, closed out his year in style Friday, throwing five scoreless innings to help Double-A Reading defeat Trenton, 3-0.

Nola, ranked No. 46 on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects list, struck out two, walked none and allowed four hits. He threw 61 pitches and earned the victory, his second in five starts with Reading.

Nola outdueled Yankees No. 1 prospect Luis Severino, who allowed one run on five hits and one walk in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out four batters and threw 72 pitches.

The Phillies drafted Nola with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. He has advanced quickly and this month became the first Phillies No. 1 pick in 28 years to reach Double-A in the same year he was drafted. He pitched well against the more experienced competition of the Eastern League, posting a 2.63 ERA with 15 strikeouts and five walks in 24 innings.

Nola began the year as LSU's ace and went 11-1 with a 1.47 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 116 1/3 innings. He won his second consecutive SEC Pitcher of the Year award and helped the Tigers win the SEC Tournament. Shortly after his college season ended in the NCAA Tournament, the Phillies made him the third-highest Draft pick in school history.