Phillies shut down Braves thanks to one of the best starts of Zack Wheeler’s career
ATLANTA — The Phillies made it two in a row over the Braves with a 2-1 win Saturday, thanks mostly to one of the best starts of Zack Wheeler’s career.
The Phillies’ ace was feeling it, hitting 98 mph three times in the first inning and throwing 27 pitches at least 97. Wheeler’s two-seamer velocity was up a full mph from his season average and he pounded Braves hitters with it on the inside corner. He struck out dangerous Austin Riley and Sean Murphy twice apiece and retired lefty Matt Olson all three four he faced him.
Wheeler allowed three hits and struck out 12 over eight scoreless innings, improving to 4-4 with a 3.60 ERA through 11 starts.
He benefitted from an excellent, run-saving defensive play by third baseman Alec Bohm in the fourth inning. With a man on second and one out, red-hot Marcell Ozuna laced a groundball down the third base line and Bohm dove to his right and threw him out from his knees. If Bohm doesn’t glove the ball, it scores a run, puts Ozuna in scoring position and forces high-stress pitches from Wheeler, who was instead out of the inning two pitches later.
In 11 starts against the Braves as a member of the Phillies, Wheeler is 5-2 with a 2.10 ERA.
The Phils are 25-27 and look to win the four-game series against first-place Atlanta on Sunday Night Baseball. Wheeler’s long outing was especially important with Dylan Covey making his first start as a Phillie in the finale.
The Braves’ Charlie Morton was also locked in early and maxed out at 98 mph, but the Phillies were able to get to him in the fifth inning with production from the bottom of the order. Brandon Marsh began the frame with a single and Kody Clemens doubled to put two in scoring position. Bryson Stott followed with a sacrifice fly and Trea Turner doubled in a run for the second straight game.
Clemens continues to produce in a part-time role. He has hit .350 over his last 12 starts with four home runs, three doubles and 10 RBI. He’s essentially claimed the role Darick Hall began the season with, starting at first base against right-handed pitchers. Hall will began a rehab assignment Tuesday in Clearwater but he will need to hit his way back to the bigs given the amount Clemens’ success.
Turner might finally be in the beginning stages of a hot streak. He’s driven in a run in back-to-back games for the first time all season and has an extra-base hit in three of his last four games.
Craig Kimbrel closed out the win for save No. 401, the day after becoming the eighth member of the 400-save club. He joked after his big moment Friday night that he still had to go work out for an hour because there was a game to win the next day. Win they did. Kimbrel allowed a one-out solo homer to Sean Murphy but retired Ozuna and Eddie Rosario to end the game, giving the Phillies a chance to win their first NL East series of 2023.
