Phillies Use Zack Wheeler Gem To Shutout Padres 3-0
Zack Wheeler was excellent on Wednesday night as Phillies pitchers shut the Padres offense down taking game two of the series 3-0.
Phillies (18-19) Beat Padres (23-14)
- Winning Pitcher: Zack Wheeler (2-3, 3.49)
- Losing Pitcher: Blake Snell (0-1, 7.36)
- Save: Corey Knebel (8)
Zach Wheeler was outstanding tonight, tossing seven shutout innings while allowing only four hits and striking out a season-high nine Padres hitters. Wheeler threw 66% of his pitches for strikes and didn’t walk a single batter lowering his ERA to 3.49 after struggling to start the season and also dealing with a positive covid test ten days ago.
JT Realmuto kicked off the scoring for the Phillies ending an 0-13 slump with an RBI single in the 1st inning. Rhys Hoskins hit a solo home run off Blake Snell in the 3rd inning to put the Phils up 2-0. The former Cy Young Award winner struggled in his first start of the season, allowing three runs in just 3.2 innings of work, after missing the first month with a groin injury.
Odubel Herrera knocked Snell out of the game with an RBI double in the 3rd inning, that put the Phillies up 3-0. Thats all the Phils would need as relievers Jose Alvarado and Core Knebel combined for two hitless innings once Wheeler exited the game.
Hoskins, who has struggled more most of the season to find his groove at the plate, is slashing .296/.321/.519 with two HR and 7 RBI over the past week. The Phillies will have to find a way to manufacture runs as they continue to play without National League Player of the Week, Bryce Harper, who missed his third straight game after undergoing a PRP injection in his injured throwing elbow.
Jean Segura went hitless on Wednesday night bringing an end to his 13-game hitting streak which was the longest streak in the National League. His 19-game hitting streak at Citizens Bank Park also came to end with his 0-4 performance.
The Phillies will look to secure their third straight series victory as they close their three game set against the Padres Thursday at 1:10 p.m.
JT Realmuto, the best catcher in baseball, put the Phillies on the board with an RBI single back up the middle.
1-0 Phils
Rhys Hoskins knew immediately this Blake Snell fastball was headed for the left field seats doubling the Phils lead.
2-0 Phils
Odubel Herrera rips and RBI double down the right field line scoring Kyle Schwarber.
3-0 Phils
Eric Hosmer gave this Zack Wheeler fastball a ride but the ball died in deep centerfield falling into the glove of Nick Castellanos.
Up Next
DAY GAME ALERT!!
The Phillies will look to secure the series win against the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday afternoon.
Kyle Gibson (3-1, 4.10) will toe the rubber facing off against Yu Darvish (3-1 4.62), with the first pitch scheduled for 1:05 pm.
NBC Sports will carry the broadcast of the game.
Mandatory Image Credit: San Diego Union Tribune
