Talk about starting the week (and the homestand) off right.
The Phillies wrapped up June on a strong note, collecting their 50th win of the season Monday against the Padres, 4-0.
The club finished the month 14-13, and while it was a stretch teetering along the .500 mark, the Phillies enter July sitting two games up on the Mets in the NL East. Only the Dodgers have a better record in the National League.
To be able to say that, even with the offensive coin toss they’ve had over the past few weeks, is a feat in itself.
It’s a broken record when it comes to Zack Wheeler starts but the Phillies are spoiled rotten when he takes the mound. Wheeler went 8.0 innings for the first time this season and didn’t allow a run on six hits. It’s the first time he’s reached double-digit strikeouts (10) since Apr. 18 against the Marlins (13). All three times he’s hit that double-digit marker, he hasn’t allowed a walk.
Wheeler capped off one of the most dominant regular-season months of his career with three straight scoreless outings. He only allowed two runs in the five starts and walked seven with 42 strikeouts.
“It’s phenomenal,” manager Rob Thomson said. “I’m not sure if I’ve had a pitcher that – whether I’m coaching or managing – that has had a month like that. He was pretty much dominant the whole month.”
It’s greatness. Time and time and time again.
If you give up a leadoff walk in an inning, there’s a good chance you’ll have to pay for it. In Matt Waldron’s second of six walks of the night, he sent Max Kepler to first on four pitches. Kepler would cross home plate two batters later.
One inning later, Kepler was inches away from helping the Phillies go up three more runs … if it weren’t for one of the best catches to ever happen at Citizens Bank Park.
With two men on, Kepler drilled a ball to deep center field and Jackson Merrill snatched it over the fence. The timing and extension from the 6-foot-3 center fielder was impeccable and he brought the ball, and everyone in the ballpark, back to Earth to end the third.
It’s OK though because the next time the offense was up, utter chaos ensued on the basepaths. Bryson Stott walked, then stole his 13th bag of the season. Brandon Marsh out-hustled Luis Arraez on a groundout to first, which somehow scored Stott. A wild pitch advanced Marsh and he then read a Trea Turner dribble up the third baseline so well, both he and Turner were safe.
Bryson Stott just kept on going! Phillies…