Phillies 1 step closer to NL East crown with 5-1 win vs. Brewers
Morry Gash/AP Photo
It’s a much better day in Philly sports.
Zack Wheeler turned in one of his best performances of the season, along with timely hitting from some fan favorites, and got the Phillies one of their biggest wins of the season. It may just seem like some random win, but this win secured the season series against the Brewers for the Phils. This means they have both the Dodgers and the Brewers season series won. Obviously huge for any tiebreakers if they become necessary.
Their magic number to clinch the postseason is one, which can be achieved with a win tomorrow. The number to win the NL East is four.
Wheeler/Hoffman 2024
Finally, a ballot we can all get behind. On a serious note, the pitching has been incredible. More specifically, Zack Wheeler has been incredible. He’s itching closer and closer to the oh-so-elusive CY Young award. Against one of baseball’s best teams tonight, Wheeler gave a whopping 7 innings of 1 run ball. It will be a 2 headed race between Wheels and Chris Sale for the award that will come down to the last starts for each of them respectively.
After his awful month of July, Matt Strahm not only is back but has been one of the best lefties in baseball for a month and a half now. He’s boasted a 1.08 ERA since August and was trusted to pitch the 7th inning tonight, which would be scoreless. Then it was off to another guy who has recovered from a rough stretch in Jeff Hoffman. He too has been on fire, not allowing a single earned run since August 21st. Hoffman was given his usual assignment and closed out the victory on just 9 pitches.
Money talks and scores runs
It was the big names that did the heavy lifting tonight. the 1-4 spots dominating and being responsible for all 5 RBIs as well. Up against Frankie Montas the bats got to him early. How early? Try a 430-foot nuke in the second inning from Nick Castellanos. Lord knows Casty could end up being a crucial piece in Red October so it’s nice to see.
Then it was another guy you may have heard of before, Bryce Harper. Harper sent a ball just under 400 feet, to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead and they never let go.
Kyle Schwarber, known speed demon, scored the returning Edmundo Sosa on an infield single an inning later to add insurance, and Trea Turner would add another insurance run in the 9th to bring us to our final result of 5-1.
The Phillies will look to take the series tomorrow and then look to take the NL East for the first time in over a decade in New York against the Mets. This is where the fun begins, so get ready to make some memories.
Use code PHILLYSPORTSREPORT for $20 off your first SeatGeek order
Click here to save 10% on any order at FOCO
Ethan Whitney
Ethan is a writer for Philly Sports Reports and a Color Commentator for Rally Sports Network. He has been a massive fan of all Philly Sports for as long as he can remember and wants to share that passion with the world. He is looking for a long career in the sports media sphere.
