Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler lead Phillies to much-needed win over Mariners
Final Score: Phillies 6, Mariners 0
A night after a crushing extra-inning loss to the Seattle Mariners, the Philadelphia Phillies needed their two best players — first baseman Bryce Harper and RHP Zack Wheeler — to be stoppers. They were, and it helped the Phillies to avoid a series sweep at T-Mobile Park, and to snap a six-game losing streak.
Wheeler limited the Mariners to just two hits over eight shutout innings, while fanning nine batters. It was quite the rebound for Wheeler, who allowed seven hits and seven earned runs against the New York Yankees last Monday. On the season, his ERA now sits at 2.77 across 136 2/3 innings pitched.
The Phillies needed Wheeler to pitch that well, because All-Star Logan Gilbert held the Phillies to just four hits and one run over six innings pitched. It wasn’t until after he departed the game that the Phillies offense did most of their damage.
Meanwhile, Harper had a three-hit day, which included his first home run since July 27 and his 3,000th career base. It was an extremely welcome sign for Harper, who entered the day hitting just .117 with a .459 OPS since the All-Star Break.
For the Phillies, the win improves their record to 66-45, which remains the top mark in the National League despite their recent struggles. The Phillies will open up a three-game set in Los Angeles Monday evening against the Dodgers, the team with the NL’s second-best record at 65-47.
Highlights
- Kyle Schwarber led the game off with a solo home run off of Logan Gilbert, a 428-foot blast:
- With his single in the top of the fourth inning, Harper reached 3,000 total bases in his career. According to the Phillies, Harper is just the 42nd player to reach 3,000 career bases before his 32nd birthday (Harper will turn 32 in October).
- After Mariners center fielder Victor Robles made a pair of impressive catches in the top of the seventh, Brandon Marsh countered with, well, an even more interesting one to take away extra bases from Jorge Polanco in the home half of the frame:
- Bryson Stott led off the top of the eighth inning with a 404-foot home run off of Yimi García, giving the Phillies what felt like a much-needed insurance run:
- Harper crushed a hanging slider from Tayler Saucedo later in the inning, a two-run shot:
- Bohm followed up Harper’s homer with a no-doubt-about-it shot of his own:
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Monday, Aug. 5 @ Dodgers at 10:10 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia, MLB Network (out of market only)
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
- Spanish Radio: WTTM 1680
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