Timely hits, dominant bullpen help Zack Wheeler to 15th victory
Final Score: Phillies 3, Rays 2
Wins are no longer the end-and-all-be in the Cy Young race, but they look better than losses or no decisions at this time of year.
It’s why it was great for the Phillies (88-58) to not only sweep the Rays and lower their magic number to clinch the NL East to nine, but make sure Zack Wheeler got his 15th victory of the season.
Wheeler was strong across six innings. The Rays tied the game at 2-2 on a home run in his last inning of work, but the Phillies were able to take back the lead a half inning later on an RBI infield hit by Weston Wilson.
The bullpen, once again, was able to close the door easily. Matt Strahm, José Alvarado and Carlos Estevez combined to allow only one hit across three scoreless innings. Alvarado, who struggled for most of the second half, looks like he is back to his dominant self. Carlos Estevez looks healthy after taking a ball to his knee in his last outing on Sept. 9. Catcher Aramis Garcia caught a runner stealing to get the second out of the ninth inning.
Wheeler has at least two more starts left to edge out the Braves’ Chris Sale in the Cy Young race. His season ERA is now at 2.60. His 15 wins this year is a new career high.
Highlights
- Nick Castellanos gave the Phillies a two-run lead in the first with home run No. 20. It’s only the third home run Rays starter Shane Baz has surrendered to a right-handed batter this season.
- No. 9 hitter Taylor Walls got a run back for the Rays in the second with an RBI single. Wheeler began the inning by walking the first two batters.
- Brandon Lowe reached third on a leadoff triple in the third. He was stranded thanks to three straight strikeouts from Wheeler.
- For the third straight inning, the Rays began the frame with the leadoff runner on. Jonathan Aranda hit a double and Jose Siri bunted him over to third. The next batter Ben Rortvedt hit a ground ball to second base with the infield in. Second baseman Bryson Stott fired the ball home to the catcher Garcia, who applied a perfect tag for the out.
- Aranda tied the game in the sixth with one out on a solo home run to right field.
- All with two outs, the Phillies were able to retake the lead in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a Castellanos walk, Brandon Marsh single and a swinging bunt from Wilson. Baz was taken out of the game for Drew Rasmussen after just 78 pitches when Bryce Harper’s spot was due up.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Friday, Sept. 13 vs. New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park
- 6:40 p.m. EST
- NBC Sports Philadelphia, MLB Network (out-of-market only)
- 94 WIP
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