Categories: 2022 Postgame Recaps

Phillies sweep Rockies behind solid Wheeler outing

Final Score: Phillies 7, Rockies 1

The Phillies clinched their first series sweep of the season on Thursday against the Colorado Rockies, who are sure as heck as excited as anyone to get on the plane back to Denver.

Zack Wheeler threw six shutout innings in Thursday’s win against the Rockies. (Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire)

Zack Wheeler allowed only one hit through six shutout innings. The offense, thanks to some more bad defense from Colorado and command issues out of the bullpen, scored seven runs on four hits. The Phillies will travel to New York with a 10-10 record and look to extend their four-game winning streak against the 14-6 Mets.

They manufactured two early runs to give Wheeler a lead to work with. Struggling Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon committed his fourth error of the series on what should have been a ground ball double play. With J.T. Realmuto and Nick Castellanos at second and third, Alec Bohm drove in the game’s first run on a groundout.

Knowing McMahon’s abysmal performance in the infield this series, No. 9 hitter Roman Quinn was smart to bunt straight at McMahon, who could not barehand the ball. Quinn, who was making his first start since his return to the Phillies, subsequently stole second and third and scored on a Rhys Hoskins sacrifice fly.

Bohm hit his second home run of the season in the fourth against the lefty Austin Gombers. He caught a hanging changeup and pulled it into the first few rows in left field to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead.

The first two runners reached base safely against the lefty Brad Hand in the seventh. A fielder’s choice by Sam Hilliard scored Colorado’s first run of the game. After surrendering a single to the next batter Alan Trejo, Hand was lifted from the game for James Norwood. Norwood, who was claimed off waivers from San Diego during spring training, induced two quick outs on three pitches to get the Phillies out of the jam. Andrew Bellatti and Damon Jones both held the Rockies scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings.

More mishaps from the Rockies gave way to more Phillies runs in the bottom of the seventh. The home team sent 10 men to the plate and scored four runs on four walks, a hit by pitch, an error and a single that dropped in between two outfielders.

Aaron Nola will start the opener at Citi Field on Friday night. The Phillies right hander will be opposed by Tylor Megill.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Austin Gomber: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, 1 HR, 88 pitches

Gomber, who was acquired from the Cardinals in the Nolan Arenado deal, is not known to throw heat; his fastball averaged out at 90 mph on Thursday. The Phillies always seem to struggle against crafty pitchers like Gomber, but they did just enough against the 28-year-old.

Zack Wheeler: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 7 SO, 90 pitches

Thursday marked the 17th time Wheeler allowed no more than one earned run over at least six innings in a start during his Phillies career. It was his longest start of the season so far and even though velocity was inconsistent and the command diminished as the outing moved along, the results were great.

Phillies Nugget Of The Game

Thursday’s win marks the first four-game sweep of the Rockies since July 23-26, 2010. The winning pitchers in that series were Roy Halladay, Kyle Kendrick, Ryan Madson and Joe Blanton.

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