ST. LOUIS — The most satisfying Phillies comeback since Jimmy Rollins’ double to the right center field gap off Jonathan Broxton in Game 4 of the 2009 NLCS could not be authored without Zack Wheeler’s masterful outing that proceeded it.
At least that’s what his catcher J.T. Realmuto thinks. He could sense Wheeler had “it” when the two were in the bullpen as the players lined up for pregame introductions.
Even though he spent nearly a month on the injured list with forearm tendinitis, Wheeler never doubted that the ailment would keep him away from the biggest game of his life. In fact, it may have put him in a better position to dominate the way that he did. After throwing 32 fastballs that were 98 mph or more all season, Wheeler threw 12 over 6 1/3 shutout innings. It was the first scoreless outing in the postseason by a Phillies starter since Cole Hamels, who struck out eight and threw six shutout innings in a 3-2 win against St. Louis in Game 3 of the 2011 NLDS.
His stuff is back to Cy Young form, though Wheeler believes there is still work to be done.
“Command wasn’t the best, but I was spinning everything pretty well and filling up the zone,” Wheeler said.
The Cardinals lineup is heavy on MVP candidates but Wheeler neutralized them all. He came into this game with a combined 10-for-37 line against Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt. The pair went 0-for-5 against Wheeler. A 5-4-3 double play against Albert Pujols with two men out was perhaps the most important moment in the game.
“You can feel the baseball coming out a little heavier sometimes more than others,” Realmuto said. “Today, it was definitely coming out heavy.”
It was just that kind of day for Wheeler. He missed his spot twice against Arenado and he wasn’t punished for it.
“Thanks to the wind. It was blowing a little bit today,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler said he was in the dugout for the Phillies six-run comeback spearheaded by his catcher’s one-out single, a pair of walks and a hit batsman against a typically lights out closer who lost all semblance of command and Jean Segura’s timely hitting.
“It was special,” Wheeler said. “I mean, I’ve never really been in an atmosphere like that. It was really cool to watch and be a part of for sure.”
One more win and it’s possible Wheeler’s next outing could in his hometown of Atlanta against the Braves. If Friday’s game was the start of what the Phillies hope is a long road to the World Series, Wheeler, along with tomorrow’s starter Aaron Nola, will be central figures.
“He’s one of those guys who in the biggest stage of the year, you want him to have the baseball,” Realmuto said about Wheeler. “He doesn’t have to say anything to make you feel that way. It’s just his demeanor. He’s a competitor.”
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