Phillies blank Guardians 3‑0 behind Wheeler’s dominant start
PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — Zack Wheeler pitched six innings of two-hit ball and the Philadelphia Phillies shut out the Cleveland Guardians 3-0 on Saturday evening at Citizens Bank Park, snapping a two-game losing streak and moving back to .500 at 26-26.
Wheeler, who improved to 4-0 on the season, allowed only two singles, walked one and struck out six. He did not give up an extra-base hit until Rhys Hoskins doubled with one out in the second inning, but Wheeler stranded him at second by striking out Daniel Schneemann and getting Angel Martínez to line out. Over his last three starts, Wheeler has allowed one earned run in 20 1/3 innings while winning all three outings.
The Phillies broke through against Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi in the fourth inning. Bryce Harper led off with a single to center, and Alec Bohm followed with a single to right that moved Harper to second. After Brandon Marsh grounded out, advancing both runners, Bryson Stott delivered a two-run single to center field, scoring Harper and Bohm to give Philadelphia a 2-0 lead.
Philadelphia added an insurance run in the sixth. Harper reached on a one-out single to center, and Bohm walked. After Marsh struck out, Stott walked to load the bases. J.T. Realmuto struck out for the second out, but Adolis García drew a walk to force in Harper, making it 3-0.
Cecconi (3-5) took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits over five innings. He struck out five and walked two. The Guardians offense managed only three hits over the entire game. Travis Bazzana doubled to lead off the ninth inning, but José Ramírez flied out to left, Chase DeLauter grounded out to shortstop and Kyle Manzardo struck out to end the game.
Jhoan Duran pitched the ninth inning for his ninth save of the season, allowing one hit and striking out one. Orion Kerkering struck out two in a perfect seventh inning, Brad Keller worked a scoreless eighth and Cleveland relievers Matt Festa, Peyton Pallette and Shawn Armstrong each tossed a scoreless inning in relief.
Harper went 3 for 4 for the Phillies, reaching base four times. Stott finished 1 for 3 with a walk and two RBIs. Cleveland’s only hits were Hoskins’ double in the second, DeLauter’s double in the fourth and Bazzana’s double in the ninth.
The Guardians entered the game having won four straight and six of seven, including a 1-0 victory over the Phillies on Friday night. Cleveland fell to 31-23, while Philadelphia evened its record.
The game lasted 2 hours, 36 minutes before an announced crowd of 36,125.
Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Cleveland 8, Philadelphia 6. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Philadelphia with a 52.70 percent probability to win. Philadelphia had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 3 went over the over/under line of 7.5.