WASHINGTON — Zack Wheeler gave the Phillies the kind of seven-inning answer they needed Wednesday, working through the Nationals with four-hit command in a 3-0 win that settled a rotation looking for steadier footing in the postseason race.
Wheeler steadies Philadelphia in Washington
Philadelphia arrived needing more than a split of the two-game set. Jesús Luzardo had gone on the 15-day injured list a day earlier, while Cristopher Sánchez, an NL Cy Young Award contender, had been knocked around in the series-opening loss.
- Wheeler put the Phillies in control by holding Washington scoreless through seven innings, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out five.
- The Phillies supplied two first-inning runs against Nationals opener Jared Simpson, giving their starter room to work.
- Wheeler faced the minimum over his final three innings. His last pitch came against Dylan Crews, who struck out on a 96.6 mph fastball at the bottom of the zone.
- Luis Arraez added insurance in the seventh with an RBI double, pushing the lead to three runs.
The outing marked Wheeler’s second straight start of at least seven innings. The three-time All-Star improved to 13-5 with a 2.99 ERA and moved within three strikeouts of 2,000 for his career.
Box notes
| Player | Line |
|---|---|
| Zack Wheeler | 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K |
| Luis Arraez | 1-for-2, double, 3 BB, RBI |
| Alec Bohm | 2-for-2, 3 BB, RBI |
Arraez’s patient night helped Philadelphia keep traffic on the bases, while Bohm reached five times in five plate appearances. The early support and Wheeler’s efficient finish made for a clean clubhouse win after the previous night’s concerns.
The Phillies began play 5 1/2 games behind Atlanta in the NL East and a half-game behind the Cubs for the National League’s top Wild Card position. Atlanta and Chicago were still playing in Chicago when Philadelphia’s game ended.
SEO Title: Zack Wheeler’s Seven Strong Innings Lift Phillies Past Nationals
SEO Description: Zack Wheeler threw seven scoreless innings as the Phillies beat the Nationals 3-0, with Luis Arraez and Alec Bohm leading the offense.
