Zack Wheeler struggles in game 2 of doubleheader, Phillies lose 9-3
Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler flips the baseball before getting replaced in the sixth inning as his teammates stand behind. Yong Kim / The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Phillies fell just short of a series sweep against the Braves after taking games 1 and 2, but falling in game 3, 9-3.
Zack Wheeler had a strange off day on the mound and would wind up allowing 6 earned runs, a season-high. Braves lefty Chris Sale pitched a dominant 6.0 innings to propel them to a victory as they split today’s doubleheader.
Sale silences the bats
It was a near-perfect outing from the defending NL Cy Young winner, Sale. After a rough outing against Philadelphia back in April, where he pitched just 4.2 innings, allowing 5 earned runs, he looked like a different pitcher entirely tonight. The Phillies managed just 2 hits and worked 3 walks against Sale, and outside of chances in the 2nd and 5th innings, struggled to create any opportunities
By the time the Phillies’ offense broke the ice, it was too little, too late, down by 8. J.T. Realmuto would be the one to do it, scoring Kyle Schwarber while grounding out. Edmundo Sosa added another with an RBI single not long after to make it 8-2. Trea Turner also got an RBI single in the bottom of the 9th.
It wasn’t a great series for guys like the aforementioned Sosa. He appeared in all 3 games and went just 1-9 from the plate. Realmuto also added to what has been a frustrating start to the season at the plate. He went just 1-7 in the series and is 2 for his last 17 plate appearances.
Nick Castellanos, however, was incredible in this series. He played all 3 games, combining to go 7-12, including going 4-4 in game 2 of the series. Castellanos’ average has jumped up to .284, and his 14 doubles in 13th in MLB.
Wheeler is unfortunately human
For whatever reason, tonight was not the night for the usually reliable ace Wheeler. Up against Sale, who beat him out for Cy Young honors a season ago, Wheels looked off on his control during the outing.
He walked 4 batters, which ties the most he’s ever walked in a start in his time with the Phillies.
Things didn’t get truly out of hand for Wheeler until the 4th inning. An Austin Riley 2-run double and Ozzie Albies 2-run homer put the Braves up by 4, and they never looked back. While Wheeler will be fine, it has to sting that he was originally set to start game 1 of the day-night doubleheader but called Rob Thomson asking to instead pitch the second game.
The bullpen didn’t have its greatest performance in tonight’s game after the night was over for Wheeler. Carlos Hernandez was tasked with getting the Phillies out of the 6th inning. He allowed 2 runs on a Luke Williams 2-run single, but neither of them would be earned as Wheeler was responsible for the base runners.
In the 7th inning, the ball was handed over to Joe Ross for the first time in 5 days. Ross struggled, giving up a walk and then later a 2 run home run from Riley. After Ross it the 27th man, Brett de Geus, would pitch the final 2 innings of the game. The 27-year-old California native had an average showing from the bullpen. He gave up 1 earned run after walking 3 consecutive batters in the top of the 9th inning, allowing Albies to pick up an RBI on a groundout.
Who’s next?
Tomorrow, the Phillies will kick off a 3-game series against Rhys Hoskins and the Brewers at home. Then, looking into June, it will begin with a 2-series road trip in Toronto and Pittsburgh. With 3 beatable teams on the schedule, the Phillies will look to stay red hot as they attempt to build their NL East cushion over the Mets.
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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.
