Zack Wheeler worked seven strong innings as the host Philadelphia Phillies completed a season sweep of the San Diego Padres with a 6-4 victory Thursday afternoon.
After capturing all three matchups in San Diego last week, Philadelphia took care of business at Citizens Bank Park this time around with Wheeler (5-1) taking center stage in the team’s latest victory. The veteran right-hander held the Padres hitless until the sixth inning and, on the day, allowed two runs, two hits and three walks while striking out eight.
Adolis Garcia homered for the Phillies, while Bryson Stott and Alec Bohm each collected two hits and an RBI to help Philadelphia improve to 7-2 in its last nine games.
Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill each belted a two-run homer for the Padres, who have lost nine of 10.
San Diego starter Lucas Giolito (2-1) allowed three runs (two earned) and six hits over four innings.
Through five innings, Wheeler’s only blemish was a walk to Ty France to open the second. However, Wheeler rebounded to get the next three hitters to begin a streak of 13 straight batters retired.
Philadelphia opened the scoring in the fourth, when Bryce Harper walked with one out against Giolito and moved to second on a single by Brandon Marsh. Two batters later, Stott delivered an RBI single.
Garcia led off the fifth with a homer against Giolito before Justin Crawford’s double ended the right-hander’s afternoon. Yuki Matsui came on and recorded a couple of outs before his errant pickoff at first base allowed Crawford to jog home from third.
The first hit against Wheeler was Bryce Johnson’s flare into left with one out in the sixth inning. However, Fernando Tatis Jr. promptly grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Machado’s two-run homer in the seventh brought San Diego within 3-2, which was the final score of the first two games of the series. But Philadelphia tacked on three insurance runs against Adrian Morejon in the bottom of the frame, highlighted by RBI singles from Trea Turner and Bohm.
Merrill’s two-run blast against Jose Alvarado in the ninth completed the scoring.
