Field Level Media
Aug 8, 2021
Zack Wheeler tossed a complete-game, two-hit shutout against his former team as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the New York Mets 3-0 on Sunday, completing a series sweep.
Wheeler (10-6) continued to make a strong case for the National League Cy Young Award. He walked one and struck out 11, his sixth time this season striking out at least 10. He now leads the majors with 181 strikeouts.
Jean Segura, J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper each homered for the red-hot Phillies, who have won a season-best eight in a row. It marks their longest winning streak since 2011, also the last year the team made the postseason.
The Phillies played without first baseman Rhys Hoskins (groin), shortstop Didi Gregorius (elbow) and outfielders Andrew McCutcheon (knee) and Odubel Herrera (Achilles).
The reeling Mets were swept by the Phillies, one series after dropping three of four to the Miami Marlins. The Phillies picked up seven games in the standings over the Mets over the past eight days.
Mets starter Taijuan Walker allowed four hits and three runs in six innings. Walker (7-7) struck out one and walked one.
The Phillies jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Segura launched a solo homer to left-center field. One out later Realmuto added an opposite-field solo shot to right for a two-run advantage.
Brandon Nimmo was responsible for both Mets hits: a leadoff double to start the game and a single in the ninth inning.
New York's Javier Baez left the game in the fifth inning after grounding out to second. Baez never advanced out of the batter's box and appeared to be in pain. The Mets said Baez had left hip tightness, and he was replaced by J.D. Davis.
Harper hit a solo homer to left with two outs in the sixth for a 3-0 lead. It was Harper's 20th home run of the season.
Alec Bohm singled with one out in the seventh for the Phillies. But Ronald Torreyes grounded into a double play to end the inning.
After Nimmo's leadoff double in the first, Wheeler retired 22 batters in a row before Michael Conforto walked in the eighth inning. Jonathan Villar popped up to Bohm at third and James McCann flied out to right.
In the ninth, pinch hitter Kevin Pillar struck out swinging and Nimmo followed with a single. Jeff McNeil popped up and Pete Alonso struck out swinging to end the game.
--Field Level Media