Categories: 2024 Postgame Recaps

Orioles shell Zack Wheeler for four homers as Phillies drop series in Baltimore

Zack Wheeler struggled on Sunday. (Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire)

Facing off in a battle of aces against the pitcher who won the 2021 National League Cy Young Award over him, Zack Wheeler was hit as hard as he’s ever been hit in a Philadelphia Phillies uniform.

The Orioles tagged the right-hander for four home runs and eight earned runs, while new Baltimore ace Corbin Burnes allowed just two runs in six innings to beat the Phillies, 8-3, on Sunday afternoon in front of a sellout crowd at Camden Yards. And after winning a thrilling series opener on Friday night, Philadelphia dropped two straight to lose this highly anticipated three-game interleague series.

Wheeler surrendered more than one home run for the first time in the 2024 season, while giving up his most homers and earned runs in a start since he came to Philadelphia in only 4 1/3 innings. The damage started early as he appeared to have Gunnar Henderson struck out to start the bottom of the first, but the left-handed batter took the missed call and ran with it for a leadoff shot.

The Phillies (47-24) were frustrated with home-plate umpire Mike Estabrook’s strike zone throughout the game. It ultimately boiled over in the top of the sixth when the umpires overturned a hit-by-pitch call, and Rob Thomson delivered his most theatrical and heated ejection as Philadelphia’s manager. But, while the first O’s run of the game might’ve been on the ump, Estabrook’s inconsistent zone didn’t make Wheeler throw the hittable pitches that led to a Collin Cowser two-run homer in the second, a solo shot by Adley Rutschman in the third or the RBI single and three-run blast from Jordan Westburg that came in the fifth.

Burnes, the former Brewer, was solid on the mound. The Phillies put together one mini-rally against him in the fifth as Nick Castellanos drove in a run on a groundout and Alec Bohm smacked an RBI single, but the righty stranded runners on the corners to keep it a 4-2 game.

As the Orioles kept the offense rolling, Philadelphia added another in the seventh on a Bohm double and loaded the bases in the ninth. Baltimore kept them from getting too close. After a tough road schedule in London, Boston and Baltimore, the Phillies will head home with a chance to regroup.

Highlights

Henderson, with new life, hit a leadoff home run for Baltimore.

Westburg blew it open in the fifth with an opposite-field homer.

Thomson’s ejection was the most exciting moment for Phillies fans.

Notes

Despite his poor outing, Wheeler picked up his 1,500th career strikeout in the fourth inning.

Wednesday’s loss should be Philadelphia’s final game without Trea Turner (hamstring) as Thomson said the star shortstop will be activated from the injured list on Thursday.

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