Categories: 2023 Postgame Recaps

Zack Wheeler dominates, offense explodes and the Phillies are now 71-58

Zack Wheeler was dominant tonight. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

Final Score: Phillies 12, Cardinals 1

Before tonight, the last time Zack Wheeler took the mound against the St. Louis Cardinals was last fall in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series. That afternoon, the veteran right-hander pitched very well. He tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits at Busch Stadium.

This time around, Wheeler was on his home mound at Citizens Bank Park, where he had a 4.07 ERA this year. And while his last outing against the Redbirds was masterful, the righty’s start tonight was dominant.

Wheeler generated 24 swings-and-misses and struck out 10 Cardinals hitters through his seven-plus innings of work. He also allowed just one run on three hits while not walking a single hitter.

Not only was the right-hander dominant, he was also efficient. Out of the seven innings he pitched, six were 1-2-3 frames. He also finished his night with just 80 pitches, averaging a little more than 11 per inning.

If it weren’t for a lengthy bottom of the seventh by the Phillies offense, Wheeler, who was pulled after giving up a leadoff single in the eighth, easily could’ve tossed a complete game the way he was pitching. But with the team eyeing another playoff run this October, it’s always a good idea to save the arm of their best pitcher for that run.

Even though Wheeler didn’t need it, Philadelphia’s offense provided plenty of run support for their 33-year-old ace as they hit three home runs — the second of which broke the franchise record for most home runs hit in a single calendar month.

Bryson Stott hit the first home run in the fourth to give the Phils a 3-1 lead:

Stott’s home run was Philadelphia’s 46th this month, tying the franchise record set back in September of 2019.

Three innings later, a pair of three-run homers extended the home team’s homer record, along with their lead.

Nick Castellanos’ three-run jack was first up in the seventh and officially broke the franchise record for most home runs hit in a month with 47:

And that was followed by Brandon Marsh’s, extending the record even further:

All in all, the Phillies scored seven runs in the seventh inning on six hits and two walks.

It wasn’t just Stott (2-for-4), Castellanos (2-for-5) and Marsh (2-for-4) who had good nights at the plate. Both Bryce Harper (3-for-4) and Trea Turner (2-for-4) continued their hot months of August, while Kyle Schwarber reached base three times and Alec Bohm drove in a run with a sac-fly and also walked.

Over their last eight games, the Phillies have scored 61 runs and slugged 21 home runs.

As the old saying goes, “Hitting is contagious.”

Ticket IQ Next Game