CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Shortly after Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski revealed on Saturday morning that extension talks had halted with Aaron Nola, the right-hander was hit hard by the Yankees in his final Grapefruit League start before Opening Day.

The damage: five earned runs on six hits (including four for extra bases) while facing just 11 batters in an 8-3 loss at BayCare Ballpark.

Nola said the timing was purely coincidental, quickly dismissing any talk of a distraction.

“I’m trying not to let anything get to me, no matter what it is,’’ Nola said. “I’m going to finish my game, focus on executing my pitches. That’s all I’m going to do. My main focus is wanting to have the best year I can with these guys and for this team.

“We were hoping [a contract extension] would get done. I mean, we definitely tried to get it done. But it just didn’t work out right. It doesn’t mean it’s over by any means. We’ll talk at the end of the season.’’

Nola is entering the final year of a a four-year, $45 million extension he signed before the 2019 season that included a $16 million club option for the 2023 campaign.

Nola said he simply put too many pitches up in the zone against the Yanks, but added that his body feels fine after the 37-pitch outing and he’s ready for Opening Day.

“Time to step on the gas,’’ Nola said.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he was unconcerned by Nola’s performance.

“Just getting his work in and he got some pitches up,’’ Thomson said. “He hung a breaking ball [on a homer by Josh Donaldson] and left a cutter up in the zone [on a homer by Andres Chaparro]. They just got it up in the wind and got it out of here. He got his pitches in and he’s ready for Opening Day.’’

Thomson said he also wasn’t worried about Nola’s contract talks.

“I think between the two parties it’s kind of a gentlemen’s agreement that if nothing is done by Opening Day, then let’s just focus on the season and on his pitching,’’ Thomson said. “And then start up again at the end of the year. I’m not really involved in that type of stuff.’’

Dombrowski, on the other hand, is heavily involved. He was also unworried, pledging to focus on the season before renewing talks with Nola’s camp.

Thursday will mark Nola's sixth consecutive Opening Day assignment, further cementing his place in franchise history. Only two Phillies pitchers -- Robin Roberts (12) and Steve Carlton (10) -- have started more consecutive season openers for the club.

“We think the world of Aaron -- quality pitcher, quality human being,’’ Dombrowski said. "Sometimes you just get to this point where you’re just not able to consummate a deal that both sides feel comfortable [with]. Aaron knows we are very open-minded in trying to sign him at the end of the season. We’re hopeful he’ll remain a Phillie for a long time.’’

Dombrowski said the team made clear its interest in discussing a contract extension with Nola after the World Series, but serious talks didn’t begin until Spring Training.

“I think once the [regular] season begins, you're better off to be in a position to just say, ‘OK, we really tried hard from both ends of it and it just hasn't worked out.' And I think also from the player's perspective … You don't want it to be a distraction. We want him to go out there, win a bunch of games and be a quality pitcher for us all season long.’’

Joe Longo, Nola’s agent, said in a statement: “We had good communication with the Phillies. We just couldn’t agree at this time. We’ll pick up the conversation again at the end of the season.’’

Nola, who turns 30 on June 4, was 11-13 with a 3.25 ERA last season and finished fourth in National League Cy Young Award voting. He leads all Major League pitchers in starts (143) and innings pitched (871 2/3) since 2018.

The Phillies selected Nola with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft and he made his big league debut the following year on July 21, 2015. He's entering his ninth big league season; all of them have been spent in a Phillies uniform.

Nola ranks seventh on the franchise's all-time strikeout list with 1,380 -- and he could find himself ranked fourth on that list if he racks up at least 206 K's this season. He's averaged 227 strikeouts per year over the past four full seasons.