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| Aaron Nola gets the ball on Sunday. | PHOTO: John Fink |
The Phillies are poised for a series sweep against the White Sox on Sunday, riding the momentum of two resounding victories earlier in the weekend. Spencer Turnbull showcased his dominance by carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning on Friday, while Zack Wheeler replicated the feat by carrying his own no-hitter into the eighth inning on Saturday, narrowly missing out on history when rookie Korey Lee broke it up with a timely single.
Lee's single found a narrow path past the diving Bryce Harper at first base, slicing into right field off a first-pitch sinker.
The Phillies were comfortably ahead 9-0 when Wheeler, having thrown 106 pitches, yielded to Seranthony Dominguez after Lee's hit. This performance mirrored Wheeler's previous longest no-hit attempt, recalling his outing against Detroit last June 8.
Wheeler's stat line of eight strikeouts, two walks, and a hit batter underscored his control and dominance on the mound. The White Sox struggled to make solid contact, managing just two balls out of the infield against the veteran right-hander before Lee's single.
The previous night had seen Philadelphia's Spencer Turnbull nearly complete a no-hitter, only to be denied by Gavin Sheets' single in the seventh inning.
“It’s a friendly competition,” Wheeler told reporters. “Spencer had a good night last night. I try to go out there and top that and I’m sure [Aaron Nola] will try to do the same tomorrow. We try to one-up each other and that’s what makes us good. You’re just trying to beat the guy that goes before you.”
The Phillies will turn to Aaron Nola on Sunday to complete the three-game sweep. The right-hander was masterful in his previous outing, tossing 7 1/3 innings on Monday in a no-decision against the Rockies. He whiffed nine, walked one, and surrendered one run on four hits. He's carrying a 3.47 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP over his first four starts to open the season.
The White Sox counter with 24-year-old Nick Nastrini who will be making his second career Major League start. The righty tossed five frames on Monday in a loss to Kansas City. He surrendered two runs, allowed three hits, walked a pair, and struck out five.
At 3-17, the White Sox are off to the worst 20-game start to a regular season in franchise history.
Phillies Lineup
1. Schwarber DH
2. Turner 6
3. Harper 3
4. Realmuto 2
5. Bohm 5
6. Marsh 7
7. Castellanos 9
8. Stott 4
9. Rojas 8
Nola RHP
Soaring Starters
The Phillies starting staff is riding a 31 1/3 scoreless inning streak, the longest in franchise history since a 37 inning streak in August of 1969.
