Categories: 2023 Postgame Recaps

Phillies offense can’t back up Zack Wheeler in series-opening loss to Diamondbacks

Zack Wheeler made his 10th start of the season tonight. (Cheryl Pursell)

Final Score: Diamondbacks 6, Phillies 3

The Phillies opened their series with the Diamondbacks this evening as winners of back-to-back games. But, after another less-than-ideal start by Zack Wheeler and a lackluster performance from the offense, Philadelphia couldn’t extend its winning streak to three.

Wheeler, who has yet to look like himself on a consistent basis this season, labored and battled through six innings tonight. The 32-year-old right-hander threw 108 pitches across his six innings of work and allowed four runs, three of which were earned, to score while striking out just three batters.

As for the offense, they left eight runners on base as they could only muster three runs on six hits.

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In a 27-pitch top of the second inning for Wheeler, the Diamondbacks jumped out to an early 3-0 lead. After Lourdes Gurriel Jr. led off the inning with a home run, the next three batters — Josh Rojas, Dominic Fletcher and Gabriel Moreno — all reached base to load the bases with nobody out. That brought up nine-hole hitter Geraldo Perdomo — who doubled home two runs:

Pavin Smith was next up for the D-backs. Smith flied a ball to center field for what looked to be a sacrifice fly, but Dalton Guthrie — who started in center for the second straight game for a struggling Brandon Marsh — gunned Moreno down at the plate for the always exciting 8-2 double play:

Wheeler then struck out Ketel Marte to put an end to what could have been a much bigger inning for Arizona.

The Phillies cut Arizona’s lead down to one in the home half of the fourth thanks to pair of solo home runs. Kyle Schwarber left the yard first with one out in the inning, and two hitters later, Bryson Stott hit his second home run in as many days to extend his hitting streak to nine games:

Unfortunately for the Phillies, the Diamondbacks didn’t waste any time responding to their two-run inning as Smith began the fifth with a solo home run of his own:

Two-and-a-half innings later, after a Stott walk and a Kody Clemens — who pinch-hit for Dalton Guthrie– single, the struggling Trea Turner stepped up to the plate. Turner, down in the count 0-2, lined a single into right field to bring Stott home to cut Arizona’s lead to one.

With the score now 4-3, Nick Castellanos went down swinging for the second out of the inning. The Diamondbacks then intentionally walked Bryce Harper to load the bases for J.T. Realmuto, but the three-time All-Star couldn’t come through as he flied out center to put an end to Philadelphia’s threat.

And then, just like in the fifth, Arizona quickly answered back as back-to-back doubles by Christian Walker and Gurriel to start the eighth inning extended their lead back to two runs. The D-backs would go on to add an insurance run in the ninth to extend their lead to three.

The Phillies couldn’t get anything going against Arizona’s bullpen — which has nine blown saves on the year — in the eighth or ninth inning.

Shibe Vintage Sports Notes

Kyle Schwarber’s home run in the fourth inning was his 12th of the season — nine of which have been solo shots.
During his nine-game hitting streak, Bryson Stott is 12-for-35 — good for a .343 batting average.
Zack Wheeler now has a 4.11 ERA through his first 10 starts this year.
Tonight’s announced attendance was 30,040.

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