Zack Wheeler, third-inning rally lead Phillies to split in Cincinnati
Zack Wheeler threw six shutout innings on Thursday. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire)
Final score: Phillies 5, Reds 0
The Phillies needed a mini-stopper of sorts after two uncharacteristically sloppy losses in Cincinnati followed their seven-game winning streak. These days, it’s not hard to choose a stopper in the club’s starting rotation — everyone has been a stopper — but it’s hard to argue against Zack Wheeler as a leading candidate.
Wheeler was that mini-stopper on Thursday, shutting down the Reds through six scoreless innings of one-hit ball. It wasn’t always easy for the Phillies’ ace, though. He did walk four. The first two runners reached in the third before the Reds ultimately loaded the bases; Spencer Steer hit a ball that would’ve cleared the bases if it were a few feet to the right, then flew out to the warning track on a full count to end the inning.
That was it, though. Four of Wheeler’s six frames were perfect, and never again did anyone reach second off him.
And the Phillies’ offense backed him up. Trea Turner went 3-for-5 to boost his average to .336, Bryce Harper homered and Bryson Stott tripled to lead the charge, helping the Phillies leave Cincinnati with a split and move to 16-10.
