Battle of NL East Aces turns into slugfest and sloppy loss for Phillies in Atlanta

If you looked at the pitching matchup today, Zack Wheeler vs. Chris Sale, you might have thought this was going to be a low-scoring game, but the actual game proved to be anything but that.

The Phillies jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, then the Phillies’ spark plug early in the season, Edmundo Sosa, robbed a home run off the bat of Marcell Ozuna. Sosa pulled the ball back into play after it was well on its way to being yet another Ozuna heartbreaker.

EDMUNDO SOSA ARE YOU KIDDING ME⁉️#Phillies pic.twitter.com/JkGlvWtZkZ

— Philly Sports Reports (@PhlySprtsReprts) April 8, 2025

In the second inning, Wheeler was cruising, controlling the strike zone, until a defensive miscue in center by Johan Rojas, letting a ball fall at his feet after what appeared to be a miscommunication with Sosa, cost the Phillies the third out. Somehow, the official scorer called it a double. In the next at bat, Wheeler was visibly out of his rhythm walking Jarred Kelenic, then Sean Murphy homered in his first at bat of the season on an inside slider, which was flat and lacked the snap that we’ve all become used to from Wheeler’s slider.

This ended Wheeler’s MLB best streak of two or fewer runs given up in a start at 13 consecutive games. The Phillies had their aces back in the top of the third. Trea Turner singled, Bryce Harper singled, and after a double steal, Kyle Schwarber hit a triple, bringing both home, giving Schwarber a chance to show off not only his wheels but also the triple goggles.

Break out the triple goggles pic.twitter.com/asOoqVHg2G

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 9, 2025

Nick Castellanos doubled home Schwarber, and again the Phillies took a one-run lead. When Wheeler took the mound again, he dominated Braves hitters, changing speeds masterfully. Schwarber came up in the top of the fifth and hit a 462 ft home run, which left the bat at 116.7 mph. Castellanos hit a screaming double, chasing Sale from the game.

116.7 mph Schwarbomb ? #Phillies pic.twitter.com/U8xurYaMMB

— Philly Sports Reports (@PhlySprtsReprts) April 9, 2025

In the sixth inning, Wheeler hit a wall. The Braves’ Austin Riley dropped a single, then Bryan De La Cruz singled into left and Sean Murphy singled home Riley, Orlando Arcia walked, chasing Wheeler from the game and loading the bases. Michael Harris II hit a sacrifice fly, tying the game at 5. Matt Strahm came in to close out the inning, but the damage was done.

The Braves broke the tie in the 7th on a Riley double, scoring Ozuna, and scored an insurance run in the 8th, which was more than enough for Atlanta closer Raisel Iglesias to close out the Phillies for his first save of the season.

Final thoughts

This is only the 10th game of the season, but mental errors like Rojas made in the second inning make losses like this sting for a while. That misplay extended the inning and frustrated Wheeler, leading to a big inning. Wheeler leaning on the sweeper and fastball made him predictable because the sinker, which is the key to his success, betrayed him early. Even though this is an early-season game, the mental lapses are something that needs to be cleaned up if the Phillies want to make a deep run in October.

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