Categories: 2021 Postgame Recaps

Zack Wheeler’s brilliance leads Phillies to series sweep over Brewers

Final Score: Phillies 2, Brewers 0

With the opposing team’s ace on the mound and a lineup that’s missing its best hitter in Bryce Harper, the Phillies needed Wheeler to be stellar. He ended up throwing his second-career complete game shutout and his first since the 2014 season. Alec Bohm’s solo home run off Brandon Woodruff, who was also brilliant, turned out to be enough for the struggling offense.

Zack Wheeler threw his second-career complete-game shutout on Thursday. (Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire)

The Phillies will end the homestand two games above .500 at 17-15. They’ll fly south to Atlanta to take on the division-rival Braves for a three-game weekend series. Zach Eflin is set to face Charlie Morton in the series opener.

Top Plays

Woodruff started the game with six consecutive balls, which prompted an early trip to the mound for the Brewers trainer. With Andrew McCutchen and Brad Miller on base, the Phillies failed to capitalize as Woodruff regained his command and struck out both Rhys Hoskins and Didi Gregorius. Bohm flew out to Jackie Bradley Jr. in center field for the final out of the first inning.
Hoskins made a nifty catch on a ball that looked like it would fall for a grounder in the third inning. Billy McKinney, who was on second after doubling to open up the inning, was out once Gregorius touched second. McKinney thought the ball hit the ground, so he was on third. It took him a few minutes to come to his senses, but he eventually realized that the ball Luke Maile hit was caught.
After the two teams combined for two hits through six innings, Bohm finally broke the tie with an opposite-field home run. It was only the second home-run Woodruff allowed in 41 1/3 innings so far this season.

Hoskins doubled the lead with a two-base hit to left field that brought in McCutchen from first. Brewers manager Craig Counsell’s decision to keep the lefty Angel Perdomo in to face McCutchen with two outs will be scrutinized.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Brandon Woodruff: 6 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 11 SO, 103 pitches

Woodruff has torn the Phillies apart in his career. As expected, that continued today. He induced 23 swings and misses and threw only 30 balls. The only problem was that Wheeler was more dominant than he was. In 24 2/3 career innings against the Phillies, Woodruff has only allowed two earned runs on two solo home runs

Zack Wheeler: 9 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO, 118 pitches

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Zack Wheeler

The Phillies’ infield defensive improvement came just in time for Wheeler to pitch-to-contact his way to a complete-game shutout. He induced 11 groundball outs and his cutter inside gave Milwaukee hitters fits. The 30-year-old faced the minimum through eight innings and navigated through some trouble in the ninth to finish the game.

Wheeler has gone at least seven innings in a start 38 times since 2018. Jacob deGrom is the only pitcher who has done that more often (45 times). It’s more than the likes of Max Scherzer (36), Trevor Bauer (34), Gerrit Cole (32), and teammate Aaron Nola (32). He’s rarely included in the conversation, but Wheeler is in the upper-echelon of pitchers within the league. This is his third consecutive start in which he has thrown at least seven innings.

Postgame Notes

Archie Bradley, who has been on the injured list since April 11 with a left oblique strain, is a couple of weeks away from a return to action. He’ll head to Lehigh Valley for a rehab stint as the team departs for their next roadtrip. The hope is he’ll return for the team’s next homestand, which begins on May 18.
JoJo Romero is the latest Phillie to go on the injured list. He’ll be out for at least 10 days with a left elbow sprain. Ranger Suárez has been recalled from Lehigh Valley.
Former Phillies reliever Tommy Hunter is back in the major leagues. His contract was selected by the New York Mets after the team transferred injured starter Carlos Carrasco to the 60-day IL.
Jean Segura (quad strain) and Harper (wrist) are expected to travel with the team to Atlanta. Segura will most likely be activated during the upcoming series.

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