Categories: 2023 Postgame Recaps

Zack Wheeler’s dominant outing leads Phillies in win over Braves

Zack Wheeler delivered his best start of the season today. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Final Score: Phillies 2, Braves 1

The Phillies took the field this afternoon looking to inch their way closer to the .500 mark and the Braves in the NL East standings. After splitting the first two games of their four-game set with Atlanta, Philadelphia started play today with a 24-27 record — seven games behind the first-place Braves.

And even though the offense went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and scored two runs, the Phillies picked up a win behind a Zack Wheeler gem. The veteran right-hander did not allow a run in a season-high eight innings of work as he struck out 12 batters to help Philadelphia advance to a 25-27 record — now six games behind the Braves in the division race

After both teams threatened, but failed to score in the third inning, the Braves were ready to bring a runner home in the fourth. With Sean Murphy on second base, Marcell Ozuna grounded a ball down the third base line. The ball was gobbled up by a diving Alec Bohm, who not only prevented a run from scoring, but also picked up the second out of the inning:

The Phillies eventually scored first this afternoon a half inning later. A leadoff single by Brandon Marsh was followed by a Kody Clemens double to put runners on second and third with nobody out. Bryson Stott then hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring Marsh home. One batter later, Trea Turner flared a ball out to right field for a double to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead:

Philadelphia would load the bases with two outs in the inning, but J.T. Realmuto flied out to center to end the away team’s threat.

An inning later, the Phillies had runners on first and second with one out for the top of the lineup, but after Stott flied out, Atlanta third baseman Austin Riley made a strong defensive play on a ball hit by Turner to end the frame:

Despite a lack of run support, Wheeler continued his dominance as he allowed just one hit through his final three innings of work this afternoon.

After pulling his starter from the game, Phillies manager Rob Thomson went to Craig Kimbrel — who picked up career save No. 400 Friday — in the ninth in another save situation.

Kimbrel gave up a solo home run to Murphy with one out in the inning, but struck out the final two hitters he faced to secure the win.

Shibe Vintage Sports Notes

Zack Wheeler’s ERA went from 4.11 to 3.60 after his outing today.

Alec Bohm’s sixth-inning single extended his hitting streak to five games. The corner infielder is 7-for-18 (.389) during his streak.
Between last night and today, Bryson Stott and Trea Turner went a combined 6-for-16 (.375) with three walks, three RBIs, four stolen bases and scored four runs.
With his two hits today, Nick Castellanos now has 20 multi-hit games this season.

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