Zack Wheeler pitched six strong innings as the Philadelphia Phillies notched a 3-0 victory over the visiting Cleveland Guardians to snap their seven-game winning streak.
Bryson Stott knocked in two runs for Philadelphia, which had dropped its previous three games. Bryce Harper chipped in three hits and scored twice for the Phillies in a game that began two hours late due to rain.
Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi (3-5) allowed three runs and six hits in five innings, striking out five and walking one. The Guardians totaled only three hits against Wheeler and a trio of relievers.
The first three innings were uneventful as each team managed only one hit.
Rhys Hoskins doubled with one out in the second, but Wheeler (4-0) rebounded to retire Daniel Schneemann and Angel Martinez. In the following frame, J.T. Realmuto singled to lead off the inning before Cecconi took care of the next three batters.
After getting shut out in Friday’s series opener and blanked over the first three frames Saturday, the Phillies finally broke through in the fourth. Harper and Alec Bohm singled with one out and advanced on a grounder before Stott’s two-out hit up the middle made it 2-0.
Wheeler followed with a 1-2-3 fifth and then retired all three hitters he faced in the sixth, ending his night at 99 pitches. In all, the right-hander allowed two hits and a walk while striking out six and dropping his ERA to 1.67.
Philadelphia tacked on an insurance run in the sixth. Harper and Bohm reached against Cecconi to start the inning before Matt Festa came on and walked Realmuto with one out. Adolis Garcia drew a free pass with the bases loaded to force in the third run of the game.
Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering took the mound for the seventh and struck out two in a 1-2-3 frame. Brad Keller had no issues in the eighth, striking out Patrick Bailey to end the inning.
Jhoan Duran, who allowed the decisive home run in Friday’s series opener, worked around a leadoff baserunner in the ninth to pick up the save.
