The Philadelphia Phillies are back at .500 baseball after stopping a three game skid last night against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. They officially have one week to go before the trade deadline and sit in second place in the National League East, four games behind the leading New York Mets. Last night’s 5-1 victory put the Phillies a game ahead of the Atlanta Braves, the team they will face for two more games before shifting over to the Washington Nationals before the deadline.

Zack Wheeler was phenomenal last night, throwing seven innings, giving up seven hits, and just one earned run. Wheeler struck out eight Braves batters while walking only two. He threw 111 pitches on the night. Wheeler, as we all know, has been dominant all season long. He’s now 8-5 with a 2.37 ERA in 20 starts this season. The most important part of Wheeler, is the fact that he absolutely owns the Atlanta Braves this year. He’s pitched just over 26 innings against the Braves and has only allowed four earned runs, and six walks while striking out 34. That’s good for a 1.35 ERA.

On offense, JT Realmuto got things going for the Phillies in the first inning with a solo home run to deep left field.

Jean Segura gave the Phillies the lead with a two-out, two-run double in the fourth inning and Rhys Hoskins hit another double to score a run in the seventh. The best offensive performance of the night however, came from Bryce Harper on the base paths. It was a Harper masterclass. He reached base in his first three plate appearances, with a walk, double, and single.

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Four Phillies in the last 60 years have stolen 2nd, 3rd, and home in the same game. Bryce Harper now joins Jayson Werth, Pete Rose, and Larry Bowa as one of the four players to do so.

From here, the Phillies have a very little margin of error. Two more games against the Braves and the four games against the Washington Nationals before the trade deadline. Vincent Velasquez will be on the mound tonight at 6:05pm against Drew Smyly for the third game in the four game series.

Mandatory Credit: The Philadelphia Phillies