Zach Wheeler struck out 10 in six dominant innings and the visiting Philadelphia Phillies blanked the Detroit Tigers, 5-0, on Sunday afternoon.
Wheeler, who refused to be an All-Star replacement after getting initially snubbed, improved his record to 10-1. He allowed two hits and two walks. Wheeler has struck out 24 over his last two outings.
Jose Alvarado, Orion Kerkering and Jonathan Bowlan each pitched a perfect inning of relief to complete the two-hit shutout.
J.T. Realmuto led the offense with two hits, two runs scored and three RBIs as the Phillies took the final two of the three-game series. Bryson Stott and Kyle Schwarber each had two hits and an RBI.
Detroit starter Tarik Skubal allowed two runs, four hits, one walk and struck out five in five-plus innings.
Philadelphia enters the All-Star break with a 54-43 record, while Detroit has a 44-52 mark.
The Phillies took the lead in the third. Realmuto was hit by a Skubal pitch leading off the inning. He moved up on a groundout and scored on Schwarber’s single to left.
Philadelphia threatened again in the fifth. Realmuto had a one-out single and Stott doubled to right to put runners in scoring position. Skubal responded by striking out Trea Turner and Schwarber to strand the runners.
Skubal departed after giving up a leadoff single to Bryce Harper in the sixth. Keider Montero entered and gave up an infield single to Alec Bohm. A sacrifice moved both runners up, and Brandon Marsh was intentionally walked.
Derek Hill struck out for the second out of the inning, but Realmuto then smacked a double to left. When shortstop Kevin McGonigle made a throwing error on the relay, all three baserunners scored on the play.
Stott then reached on an infield single, knocking in Realmuto for a 5-0 lead. McGonigle and Colt Keith drew walks against Wheeler in the sixth. The Phillies ace struck out Riley Greene to snuff out the threat.
