Kyle Schwarber started the game with a home run, and Zack Wheeler pitched eight scoreless innings as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Seattle Mariners 6-0 on Sunday.
Bryson Stott, Bryce Harper, and Alec Bohm also hit home runs during a five-run eighth inning, giving the Phillies extra runs and ending their six-game losing streak. Schwarber added a double and a single for a three-hit day.
Wheeler (11-5) allowed only two hits and struck out nine in his longest game of the season. He only let one runner get past first base, when Cal Raleigh hit a double off the wall in the first inning.
“I knew today we needed a win, so I just had that mindset. And I was able to do it,” Wheeler said. “I feel like we got quicker outs today, so that obviously allowed me to go deeper into the game and that’s what we needed.”
Wheeler outperformed Seattle’s Logan Gilbert in a matchup of All-Star pitchers. Gilbert (6-8) fell behind early after giving up the home run to Schwarber on the third pitch of the game, a fastball right down the middle.
It was Schwarber’s 41st career leadoff home run and his 10th of the season.
Gilbert allowed four hits and struck out seven without issuing a walk. He threw 98 pitches over six innings, including 15 pitches to Nick Castellanos in the second inning, the longest at-bat in the major leagues this season. Castellanos fouled off six straight pitches before grounding out to third base.
“I felt good today for sure, but it would have been pretty sweet to finish off the series with a win and get a sweep,” Gilbert said. “Especially against that team, they’re really good. Good series getting the win, but it’s tough losing today.”
Harper singled in the fourth inning to reach 3,000 total bases in his career. Harper is the 42nd player in history and the 12th left-handed hitter to achieve this milestone before turning 32 years old, according to the Phillies.
