Zack Wheeler dominates in 4-0 win over Padres
Jun 30, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws a pitch during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
The Phillies and the Padres will take center stage in the baseball world in a marquee matchup between the 2 NL playoff contenders.
The big story for the Phillies entering this series and specifically this game is the return of Bryce Harper. Harper had missed 22 games since being sent to the IL for an injury to his right wrist.
Taking the mound for the Padres was the knuckleballer, Matt Waldron. Waldron’s first start of the 2025 season did not go to plan; he struggled with his control, allowing 4 earned runs in 4.2 innings.
For the Phillies, it was the ever-reliable Cy Young candidate Zack Wheeler. Wheeler, like usual, was fantastic, pitching 8 shutout innings and racking up 10 strikeouts against Padres’ hitters, leading the Phils to a 4-0 victory.
It wouldn’t take long for Wheeler’s first test of the day against the Padres’ offense. Xander Bogaerts would rip a 1-out double to right center in the top of the second inning. Luckily for the Phillies, Wheeler would pitch out of the jam with back-to-back swinging strikeouts.
The very next half inning saw the Phillies’ offense strike first to take a 1-0 lead. After Max Kepler worked a walk to lead off the inning, a J.T. Realmuto single would put runners on first and third for Bryson Stott. Stott hit a high chopper to second base, giving the Padres no play at home, allowing Kepler to score the game’s first run. While a passed ball would allow J.T. to advance to third base, nothing would come of it as Brandon Marsh and Trea Turner both got out.
After Wheeler set the side down in order in the top of the third, the Phillies would put more pressure on Waldron in the bottom of the inning. Alec Bohm and Nick Castellanos each worked back-to-back 2-out walks to create a scoring chance for Kepler. Kepler would be robbed of his 10th home run of the season by an incredible catch from Jackson Merrill, resulting in a frustrating 408 feet flyout.
Luckily for the Phillies, they’d get 2 of those runs back the very next inning. After another 1-2-3 top half of the inning from Wheeler, the Phillies would continue the offense. The rally started with Stott working a walk and then stealing second base. His base running prowess wouldn’t stop there as Stott scored from second on a Marsh infield single. Waldron was late covering the first base bag to try and get out Marsh, and couldn’t turn around fast enough to throw out Stott at the plate.
The aggressiveness continued as Marsh stole second base and reached third base on a wild pitch. Another infield single, this time courtesy of Turner, scored Marsh from third base to make it a 3-0 ballgame. Kyle Schwarber walked as Turner ran to third on a wild pitch to set up first and third with 1 out for Harper. Here, Bryce would just get unlucky. A bullet down the first baseline would be snagged by Luis Arraez, who was able to tag the base before Schwarber could get back in time.
The Padres showed signs of life in the top of the fifth inning as they tried to put runs on the board against Wheeler. A leadoff single and a hit by pitch put 2 on and nobody out. Wheeler was once again able to work his magic and not allow one run. He struck out Bryce Johnson swinging and forced a double play off the bat of Trenton Brooks.
The bottom of the fifth saw Castellanos tack on one more to the lead on a line drive solo shot to left field to make it 4-0.
In the sixth inning, the Padres put on more 2-out pressure. Manny Machado continued his great season with a 1-out single. After another strikeout for Wheeler, Fernando Tatis Jr. put runners on first and second with a single of his own. Wheeler got out of the inning doing what he does best, freezing Gavin Sheets on a fastball looking for strike 3. Wheeler’s excellence carried over into the seventh inning as the Padres’ lineup went down quietly in order.
Wheeler went back out for the eighth inning and showed no signs of slowing down. Luis Arraez pushed a one-out single out to right field and advanced to second base on a fielder’s choice immediately after. Wheeler’s superstar outing got the ending it deserved; his final out of the night would be his 10th strikeout of the outing as he got Jackson Merrill to chase a high fastball.
Wheeler lowered his ERA to an outstanding 2.29, which ranks second only to Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes. His 10 strikeouts on the night now put him ahead of MacKenzie Gore for first in the NL and second in all of baseball. Wheeler finishes the month of June with an ERA of 0.58.
The left-handed Tanner Banks was brought on to close out the game in the top of the ninth. He kept things mostly simple. He got 2 quick outs until Bogaerts got his third base hit of the game on an infield single. Banks rebounded quickly, ending the game on a flyout the next at bat.
For Banks, it’s his 5th straight appearance without allowing an earned run.
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.
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