Wheeler Goes Eight, Phillies Return to Win Column Over Mariners

Wheeler Goes 8, Phillies Back in the Win Column

Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

August 4, 2024

The Philadelphia Phillies are back in the win column after a 6-0 win over the Seattle Mariners to avoid a series sweep. Zack Wheeler proved why he’s the ace of the pitching staff and one of the top pitchers in the league. The right-hander went eight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. He only allowed two hits and one walk in a dominant performance Sunday.

What Went Right for the Phillies

The Bats Are Alive and Lead to Phillies Win Over Mariners

The Phillies’ bats finally woke up today, including two very important players. Kyle Schwarber led off the game with a solo home run to set the tone. He went 3-for-5 with a double to go along with the homer. Bryce Harper was able to figure things out at the plate which Phillies fans hope is a sign of good things to come. The star first baseman went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run. Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott also joined in on the home run parade with solo shots of their own. J.T. Realmuto contributed the sixth and final run of the game with an RBI single in the eighth inning.

Pitching Duel Between Phillies, Mariners

The Phillies and the Mariners were locked in a pitching duel for most of the game. After Schwarber’s leadoff home run in the first inning, the score remained 1-0 until the eighth inning. The Phillies put up a five spot in the eighth to take a 6-0 lead.

Wheeler came out in the bottom of the eighth inning and shut down the Mariners’ offense with three consecutive outs. José Ruiz took over for Wheeler in the ninth and closed the door on the Mariners. The Phillies won the game 6-0 to avoid the sweep and snapped a six-game losing streak. This game was exactly what the Phillies needed to get back to playing winning baseball.

“Being able to have our ace go out there and do his job, I mean every fifth day he’s going out there keeping us in the ballgames,” Harper said about Wheeler postgame. “Obviously, we haven’t played our best baseball as a team lately. To be able to get a win right there going into L.A. against a really good team was big for us.”

What Went Wrong for the Phillies

Turner Stays Cold

To get a win over teams like the Mariners, the Phillies, and most other teams in the majors could use a catalyst at the top of the lineup. Trea Turner has been that catalyst throughout his career and in 2024 for the Phillies. Turner is usually one of the best hitters in the league. The 31-year-old is having another good season at the plate slashing .312/.361/.493. But the shortstop is struggling in his last eight games. Turner is 4-for-35 since July 26 and has struck out 10 times. He has just one extra-base hit and one RBI. It’s important for Turner to get hits and get on base at the top of the lineup for the Phillies offense to have success.

Looking Ahead

The Phillies are looking to use this win as a turning point in their season. Rob Thomson’s team had lost 13 of the previous 17 games before Sunday’s win against the Mariners. Harper was batting just .117 in 60 at-bats since the All-Star break before today. The two-time MVP had only three home runs, two doubles, six RBI, and struck out 15 times in that stretch. The Phillies are a much better team when No. 3 is performing well at the plate. “I want to be great,” Harper said. “I want to be the best and do the things I can to help this team, this organization get to where they want to be.”

The Phillies will head to Los Angeles to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-game series starting tomorrow. Aaron Nola takes the mound in what should be a great pitching matchup against NL Cy Young hopeful Tyler Glasnow. The Phillies swept the Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park in three games before this losing streak started. They’ll look to carry this momentum into tomorrow night and put this recent stretch behind them.

There are 51 games left in the regular season. The Phillies have a 66-45 record which is among the best in the MLB. They sit six games ahead of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. The schedule will be getting easier after this road trip. The Phillies and their fans hope this game will help keep them in the win column.