Wheeler, bullpen lead Phillies past Dodgers
Final Score: Phillies 2, Dodgers 0
Rhys Hoskins homered, Phillies pitching dominated and the Phillies won the final game of this three game set against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Zack Wheeler, Jose Alvarado and Hector Neris combined to shut out the Dodgers, who have the fifth best OPS in baseball.
This was a game the Phillies needed after dropping the first two in the series against the Dodgers and falling below .500 on Tuesday night. They improve to 33-33 on the season, and remain five games behind the New York Mets for the lead in the NL East.
Top Plays
- Rhys Hoskins broke an 0-for-33 stretch with a much-needed home run to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
- The Phillies extended their lead in the top of the third, when J.T. Realmuto doubled to score Odubel Herrera and make it a 2-0 lead.
- Meanwhile, the Dodgers got baserunners in the first, third and fourth innings, but were unable to put runs on the board early against Wheeler.
- The Phillies loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning when Wheeler and Herrera both singled and Andrew McCutchen walked, but Alec Bohm struck out to end the threat.
- Wheeler allowed two baserunners in the bottom of the fifth and another one in the sixth, but he worked out of it both times.
- Jose Alvarado entered in the seventh inning and dominated, striking out the side. He returned in the bottom of the eighth and pitched another 1-2-3 inning.
- It’s worth noting that Phillies rookie Luke Williams had a three-hit game, with two singles and a double during a start at second base in place of the injured Jean Segura.
- Hector Neris hit two batters in the bottom of the ninth, but was aided by a double play in working out of it to complete the shutout for Phillies pitching.
Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance
Zack Wheeler: 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 6 SO, 98 pitches
Wheeler did not have his best stuff on Wednesday, but it didn’t really matter. He worked in and out of jams but was efffective in keeping the Dodgers off the board, which a struggling Phillies offense desperately needed. He remains in the NL Cy Young race, and his ERA now sits at 2.15 on the season.
Clayton Kershaw: 6 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO, 110 pitches
It wasn’t the classic Kershaw dominance, but the left-handed pitcher was effective on Wednesday. The Phillies were able to get nine baserunners against him, but like Wheeler, he consistently worked out of jams. His ERA now sits at 3.36 on the season.
Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Phillies pitching
Hoskins finally pulled out of his slump, but it was Wheeler, Alvarado and Neris who carried the Phillies to a win on Wednesday. Wheeler has been great all season, and for Alvarado — who consistently struggles with his control, and Neris — who has had some tough outings of late and seems to always struggle against the Dodgers — it was a much needed, all-around dominant performance from this trio.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Friday, June 18 vs. San Francisco Giants at 9:45 p.m. ET
- Oracle Park
- Peacock
- 94 WIP
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