Zack Wheeler threw seven scoreless innings to get his 100th career win, Edmundo Sosa hit a home run, doubled, and drove in two runs, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 3-0 on Saturday night.
Trea Turner also hit a home run for Philadelphia, which now leads the NL East by six games over the Braves. The Phillies have won six of their last eight games.
“He was locked in tonight,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said about Wheeler.
Michael Harris II made a spectacular catch in the seventh inning, preventing Austin Hays from hitting a home run for the Braves. “That’s probably the catch of the year,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said.
Wheeler (13-6) struck out seven, walked no one, and allowed four hits. The 34-year-old right-hander threw 65 of his 96 pitches for strikes. The Phillies signed him to a five-year, $118 million deal before the 2020 season.
“It’s special,” Wheeler said about his 100th win. “It’s been a long road. Hard work and just believing in myself and believing in the teams I’ve been on. Just trying to work hard and continue that and just get wins.”
In March, Wheeler signed a three-year, $126 million extension that will keep him with the Phillies until 2027. He has won 56 games with the Phillies after playing for the Mets from 2013 to 2019.
He got his first career win against Atlanta in his debut on June 18, 2013. Wheeler is from Dallas, Ga., about 35 miles northwest of Atlanta.
Wheeler got stronger as the game went on, retiring his last seven batters and leaving to a cheering crowd of 42,730 after a perfect seventh inning.
“I take pride in performing well in big games and moments,” he said. “The crowd was electric tonight, and I was really feeling it.”
Sosa gave Wheeler plenty of support with a massive, 450-foot home run off Max Fried (8-8) to start the third inning.
“To contribute so early and give us a head start was a very good feeling,” Sosa said through an interpreter.
Turner hit a 3-2, 95-mph fastball from Fried into the seats in left field in the sixth inning to make it 2-0. Sosa’s double in the seventh inning scored Weston Wilson, giving Philadelphia a 3-0 lead.
Jeff Hoffman struck out two in a scoreless eighth inning, and Carlos Estévez finished the shutout with his 23rd save in 27 chances, and his third in four tries since joining the Phillies on July 27.
The lead could have been larger if Harris hadn’t made a fantastic catch. He leaped at the wall to catch Hays’ drive to center field leading off the seventh inning. Harris caught the ball over his right shoulder while crashing into the railing.
He almost flipped over the wall but managed to pull himself back and held his glove up to show the catch.
“It hit perfectly in my glove, and as I was coming back, I saw the Phillies pitchers in awe,” Harris said. “That’s when I really knew I caught it. It was pretty cool to make that catch.”
Hays took off his helmet and raised it in admiration as he reached second base. “It’s just the feel and natural talent,” Snitker said about making the catch. “You can’t teach that. He’s must-see TV.”
Fried allowed three runs on five hits, with four strikeouts and four walks in seven innings.
