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In Zack Wheeler’s first career start against his former team, the Phillies beat the Mets to complete a three-game weekend sweep.
The 6-2 win improved the Phillies to 8-9. They left on Monday before hitting the road for 10 straight games after 16 of 17 at Citizens Bank Park.
Wheeler made another good start filled with ground balls. He gave up the lead in the fourth inning before the Phillies took it over again in the bottom of the sixth on Andrew McCutchen’s two-run homerun.
The Phillies are 15-7 against the Mets since the start of last season.
“Our starting shot was really good,” said manager Joe Girardi. “I think our offense, the fighting in our offense and the ability to come back, has been really good. And it looks like we’ve got a feel for where the guys are working in the bullpen. did his job this weekend and it’s encouraging. “
The Phillies reached 0.314 in the series. Their starting pitchers have a 3.59 ERA on the season.
Wheeler living in the field
Wheeler generated 39 ground balls in four starts. He has a 2.81 ERA and has completed seven innings twice.
So far the Phillies have gotten exactly what they paid for. Wheeler hasn’t been the put-out machine he was the past three seasons when he sensed one batter per inning, but he’s been so efficient with early scoring outs. He also limited the marches with six out of four starts.
The Phillies are 3-1 starting Wheeler and have won Aaron Nola’s last two throws. That’s how they drew it with that one-two punch.
Shortly after Wheeler signed with the Phillies, Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said the Mets didn’t think Wheeler was worth the money.
“The value of what we thought the investment [was] didn’t stand in line, ”Van Wagenen told reporters at Mets in December. “The projections we had for Zack in the short and long term didn’t quite match the market he could profit from.”
Wheeler admitted to feeling nerves ahead of the game against his former team, but said he didn’t think about those BVW comments.
“I’m not trying to prove anyone to be wrong,” he says. “A few nerves, more adrenaline, but once you’re on the mound it’s just another game.”
Wheeler is just as quiet as Nola.
McCutchen’s Match Winner
It was the first time in McCutchen’s major league career that he had made a home run off the bench. He came into play for Jay Bruce in the fifth inning. Bruce left after feeling something in his left quad.
McCutchen, who typically leads for the Phillies, begins to show up after a slow start. He’s 5 for 18 with five RBIs in his last five games.
Phillies three and four hitters Bryce Harper and JT Realmuto have been hot since opening day. If McCutchen and Rhys Hoskins can get ahead of them in the lineup, the Phillies have a chance to do some big damage offensive.
Hoskins won the Phillies’ first round on Sunday, in singles to Jean Segura in the first round. Hoskins is 8 for 26 with three doubles, four RBIs and seven runs scored in his last seven games.
Sure success
Segura came out low in the seventh inning after injuring his hamstrings. It appeared to happen as he stepped on the sack while beating a ball at first base.
Segura has been the Phillies’ leading hitter against the Mets for the past two seasons. His starting triple was his 13th more goal against them in 79 home plate appearances since 2019. He hit .360 against the Mets as a Phillie.
Earlier today, the Phillies put midfielder Roman Quinn on the injured list. Quinn exhibited minor symptoms of COVID-19 on Sunday morning and was told to stay home as a precaution. Adam Haseley, the other center of the Phillies, is on the IL with a sprained wrist.
Scott Kingery started center for the second straight game on Sunday and should continue to see some time there.
Bohm makes the difference
Rookie Alec Bohm has either an extra hit, RBI, or a run scored in each of his four games with the Phillies. Having that extra bat in the lineup has made a difference so far. His RBI single on the first pitch equalized the game on Sunday and preceded McCutchen’s two-point shot.
Bohm, who had strong take-out and walk rates in minors, was aggressive on the strike zone pitches. The pitchers will make a few adjustments against him, but he certainly looks like he belongs.
He’s 4 for 14 (.286) so far with two doubles. Two of the sorties he did were deep, crashed overflights.
following
The Phillies are on vacation Monday, as well as the following Monday. These two Mondays and September 9 are their only three days off in the next 5½ weeks.
The Phils are in Boston Tuesday and Wednesday, in Buffalo for a double with the Blue Jays on Thursday, and then in Atlanta next weekend.
The next team they see, the Red Sox, is a struggling group. They are 6-16 and have lost seven in a row.
“We knew we had to get into this series and fight,” Wheeler said. “It’s good to start your road trip with a sweep. We look good. We’re hitting the ball, our defense is amazing, the pen is starting to heat up. It’s time to win a few games.”
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