For a moment, it felt like another one of those Phillies comebacks was brewing.
Bases loaded. Bryce Harper at second. Alec Bohm at first. And Nick Castellanos stepping to the plate.
But on this night, the magic ran dry.
Castellanos hit a dribbler. Jason Adam, glove-flipping like he was back in Little League, shoveled it home for the force. Then Max Kepler popped out to short. Just like that, the eighth-inning rally fizzled. So did the Phillies’ hopes in a 4-2 loss to the Padres in San Diego on Friday night.
The Padres bullpen threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings to secure the victory.
Kyle Schwarber crushed his 30th homer of the season, a towering 425-foot blast into the San Diego night. That puts him in rare Phillies company — only Mike Schmidt in 1979 ever hit more before the All-Star break. That’s it. That’s the list.
Castellanos added his 12th homer, a solo shot in the second. But those were the only runs the Phillies could scratch across off rookie Ryan Bergert and San Diego’s All-Star-studded bullpen.
Earlier in the day, Adrian Morejon and Robert Suarez were added to the National League All-Star roster. By nightfall, they showed exactly why. Morejon mowed through the seventh. Suarez handled the ninth with ease for his MLB-leading 28th save.
Jason Adam’s escape act in the eighth was the turning point. After walking Trea Turner and surrendering singles to Harper and Bohm, he stared down the heart of the Phillies' order and didn’t blink.
Ranger Suarez surrendered one earned run over 6 2/3 innings for the Phillies, dropping his ERA to 1.94 on the year despite taking the loss.
Instead, the Phillies’ ace is stepping away to prioritize rest and prepare for the second half of the season.
“He came in the other day and said he wanted to make sure his body was good coming out of the break and carry on through the rest of the year,” manager Rob Thomson told reporters. “He wants to do what’s right by the club. I think he’s being smart.”
Wheeler has been one of the most dominant starters in baseball this year. In 18 starts, he's posted a 9-3 record with a 2.17 ERA. He leads the majors in opponents' batting average (.177), ranks second in WHIP (0.84), and is tied for second in strikeouts with 148 across 116 innings.
Wheeler Out
Zack Wheeler won't pitch in next week's All-Star Game. Instead, the Phillies’ ace is stepping away to prioritize rest and prepare for the second half of the season.
“He came in the other day and said he wanted to make sure his body was good coming out of the break and carry on through the rest of the year,” manager Rob Thomson told reporters. “He wants to do what’s right by the club. I think he’s being smart.”
Wheeler has been one of the most dominant starters in baseball this year. In 18 starts, he's posted a 9-3 record with a 2.17 ERA. He leads the majors in opponents' batting average (.177), ranks second in WHIP (0.84), and is tied for second in strikeouts with 148 across 116 innings.
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