Wheeler dominates alongside Hoskins HR as Phillies open series

Wheeler dominates alongside Hoskins HR as Phillies open series originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia

Zack Wheeler was visibly frustrated after back-to-back pitches in the third inning on Monday night. Two consecutive hits were called by home plate umpire Sean Barber, and Wheeler froze as he caught both return throws, clearly wondering where they went wrong.

Joey Ortiz walked and nine-hole hitter Blake Perkins singled to load the bases on Wheeler with no one out. The Phillies led by two runs, but it was a pivotal moment in the game, with the top of the order coming up and Milwaukee having a chance to tie the game or take the lead.

Pesky, quick leader Brice Turang made a deep count and on the seventh pitch hit the ball back to Wheeler, who made an immediate, albeit wild, throw back to the plate. JT Realmuto hit Wheeler’s short jumper and sprinted to first base for a huge 1-2-3 double play. With a strikeout from the dangerous William Contreras, Wheeler got out of the inning moments later and cruised from there.

Realmuto’s play won’t appear in any score boxes, but it may have saved the game. If he misses Wheeler’s throw in the dirt, at least one and potentially two runs will score, two more runners will be in scoring position, and there is still no one out.

These are the little things the 42-19 Phillies have done all season and did again in Monday’s 3-1 victory.

Wheeler improved to 7-3 with a 2.24 ERA. He threw 114 pitches, second most in five seasons with the Phillies. Manager Rob Thomson felt comfortable extending it a little longer than usual, with Wheeler hoping to receive at least an extra day before his next match.

The quartet of Wheeler, Ranger Suarez, Aaron Nola and Cristopher Sanchez has a combined 2.43 ERA in 292⅓ innings this season. To put that in context, one starting pitcher in all of baseball (Blake Snell) had such a low ERA a season ago.

The Phillies scored four times to score the first two runs of the game in the top of the second night Monday. Rookie left fielder David Dahl hit a base hit between first and second base to put runners on the corners with two outs and Edmundo Sosa and Johan Rojas followed with RBI singles.

The Phillies have outscored teams 87-44 in the first two innings of games this season, nearly doubling their opponents’ production.

Two innings later, Dahl hit a missile to right field for a solo home run. Very good first day with the new club.

Allentown roommates Dahl and Weston Wilson were called up from Triple A on Monday afternoon when Brandon Marsh (right hamstring strain) and Kody Clemens (back spasms) were placed on the 10-injured list. days.

There was a lot of energy and excitement at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night, with 43,553 players on hand for Rhys Hoskins’ first game in Philadelphia since signing with the Brewers in late January. Hoskins batted sixth as Milwaukee’s designated hitter and hit a solo home run off Wheeler with two outs in the seventh inning. Earlier in the night, he came out, walked and was thrown out by Rojas trying to score second on a two-out single.

Hoskins received huge ovations throughout the night, but especially in the second round. The Phillies paid a video tribute to him before the start of the second and the game stopped for about 30 seconds when he stepped to the plate. Hoskins patted Realmuto on the head and back and the catcher obviously recognized the moment, standing up and walking toward the mound to give Hoskins and the crowd time to take it all in.

The Brewers are the best team the Phillies have faced since the first three games of the season against the Braves, but the Phils won Game 1, as they have in 15 of the last 18 series. The Phillies are 5-2 against teams with winning records and were 3-0 against a Rangers team that would otherwise be over .500.

Sanchez and Nola, both on the rise, take the mound the next two nights.