Zack Wheeler struck out 10 over eight dominant innings, Nick Castellanos homered, and the Phillies marked Bryce Harper’s return with a 4-0 win over the San Diego Padres on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park.
Harper, back in the lineup for the first time since June 5, went 0-for-2 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Starting at first base and batting third, he also lined into an unassisted double play in his second at-bat, showing no ill effects from the wrist inflammation that sidelined him for nearly a month.
The Phillies didn’t need much from their star slugger. Wheeler took care of nearly everything. The right-hander scattered six hits and didn’t issue a walk while fanning 10, recording his sixth outing of the season with at least eight strikeouts and zero walks. He went 2-1 with a 0.58 ERA over five starts in June and continues to anchor the rotation for a club with postseason aspirations and the best record in the National League.
“I don’t think I’ve had a pitcher that, whether I’m coaching or managing, that has had a month like that,” manager Rob Thomson told reporters. “Maybe I have, but he was pretty much dominant the whole month."
The Phillies opened the scoring in the fourth thanks to Bryson Stott, who walked, stole second, and then raced home on a Brandon Marsh grounder to first, sliding head-first past the tag to make it 2-0. Marsh scored later in the inning on Trea Turner’s infield single. Castellanos added a solo homer in the fifth, launching a knuckleball from Padres starter Matt Waldron into the left-field seats to make it 4-0.
Waldron, making his season debut after missing the first three months with an oblique strain, lasted just 4 2/3 innings. He allowed four runs on four hits and walked six, struggling to locate the pitch that made him a curiosity around the league last year.
San Diego had its best scoring chance in the fifth with two runners on and one out, but Trenton Brooks lined into a double play — a quick flick from Stott to Turner ending the frame and the threat. The Padres never came close again.
The Phillies have now won three of their last four. Cristopher Sánchez (6-2, 2.79 ERA) takes the mound Tuesday night against former Phillie Nick Pivetta (8-2, 3.36 ERA) as the series continues.
The Phillies opened the scoring in the fourth thanks to Bryson Stott, who walked, stole second, and then raced home on a Brandon Marsh grounder to first, sliding head-first past the tag to make it 2-0. Marsh scored later in the inning on Trea Turner’s infield single. Castellanos added a solo homer in the fifth, launching a knuckleball from Padres starter Matt Waldron into the left-field seats to make it 4-0.
Waldron, making his season debut after missing the first three months with an oblique strain, lasted just 4 2/3 innings. He allowed four runs on four hits and walked six, struggling to locate the pitch that made him a curiosity around the league last year.
San Diego had its best scoring chance in the fifth with two runners on and one out, but Trenton Brooks lined into a double play — a quick flick from Stott to Turner ending the frame and the threat. The Padres never came close again.
The Phillies have now won three of their last four. Cristopher Sánchez (6-2, 2.79 ERA) takes the mound Tuesday night against former Phillie Nick Pivetta (8-2, 3.36 ERA) as the series continues.
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