CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Baserunning mistakes hampered the Phillies offensive attack, but Aaron Nola rebounded in his longest start of the spring in a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Thursday at Spectrum Field.
"I felt like I could go longer," Nola said. "I felt like I didn't get tired. I'm looking forward to stretching it out next outing."
Nola pitched better in his 5 2/3 innings than his four earned runs suggest, one of which scored on a misplayed popup between shortstop Freddy Galvis and left fielder Howie Kendrick.
Nola retired the first seven batters he faced -- striking out three in the process -- but allowed hits to the next three batters, the second of which was a two-run long ball off the bat of Tommy Field to tie the game at 2. ByungHo Park added an RBI single on the misplayed popup later in the inning.
"Command of all my pitches felt pretty good today," Nola said. "I felt like the ball was coming out pretty good again. I just made a couple mistakes with my changeup."
Two double plays squelched rallies for Philadelphia in the bottom of the second and third. Catcher Andrew Knapp was caught off second on a Kendrick liner to right with one out, as was Odubel Herrera the following inning when he broke from second on a soft Tommy Joseph lineout to second.
• Knapp pushing for backup role
After a Kendrick double to left in the first and a nifty slide into second to evade the tag, Twins starter Nick Tepesch allowed a two-run homer to left by Herrera in the next at-bat, putting the Phillies up early.
• Tepesch, Haley stretch out for rotation spot
The homer, Herrera's first of the spring, came in his 20th at-bat with the team. He spent two weeks with Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic and is playing in just his second game back with the Phillies. He was scratched from Wednesday's game for precautionary reasons after dealing with leg cramps.
Twins relievers Nick Burdi, Justin Haley, John Curtiss, Thomas Pressly and Player Page for Buddy Boshers held the Phillies scoreless after relieving Tepesch in fourth.
Versatile utilityman Ehire Adrianza, claimed near the start of camp, continued his strong spring with a 2-for-3 performance, including an RBI single in the 6th to cap the scoring.
Twins Up Next: Right-hander Ervin Santana will start for the Twins in a night game against the Orioles at Hammond Stadium on Friday at 6:05 CT. Other pitchers scheduled to throw include Michael Tonkin and J.T. Chargois. Both are competing for a spot in the bullpen. Watch the game live on MLB.TV.
Phillies Up Next: Newly anointed Opening Day starter Jeremy Hellickson (0-2, 7.50 ERA) will make his sixth start Friday as the Phillies make the short trip to Tampa to face the Yankees at 1:05 p.m. ET. Watch the game live on MLB.TV.
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