Zack Wheeler, a pitcher from Atlanta, decided to try a new approach in his bullpen session. He had been struggling with his command during his previous starts. Wheeler wanted a challenge. Bullpens can get monotonous.
He thought about the situations he would face in a game. He thought about the pitch he would throw to each hitter. He imagined a hitter in the box. He saw results on Saturday in the Phillies' 2-1 victory over the Braves. Wheeler hasn't been himself this season. We've seen a few glimpses but nothing like the dominance that he displayed in years past. But he was dominant against the Braves.
Wheeler's team was able to enjoy eight innings of clean, crisp baseball. It was the longest outing this season. He maintained his velocity, reaching 97 mph as late as the sixth. He only allowed three hits, no runs, and 12 strikeouts - a season's high - against a formidable Braves lineup. What really stood out was his command.
Wheeler said, "We worked really hard on working up and hitting my spots a bit better this last bullpen. Getting behind the baseball a little bit better. Today I think showed what we have worked on. We've got to keep it up through the next few starts."
His timing was impeccable. The Phillies were in need of a shut-down performance. The Phillies pounced on Braves starter Charlie Morton, tagging him with seven hits, two earned runs, and four walks, but managed to manage no earned runs, just two hits with one walk, from the Braves relievers. Wheeler's dominance would have long-term implications.
Early in the season, the Phillies' starting pitching shortage was tested. As of a week earlier, they didn't even have a 5th starter. Ranger Suarez didn't look like Ranger Suarez and Aaron Nola didn't look like Aaron Nola. If Zack Wheeler looked like Zack Wheeler, if the Phillies had at least one starter who wasn't a bit of a question mark to run out of, that would alleviate their starting pitching woes.
Turner had a promising day at the batting plate on Saturday. He went 2-for-5, with an RBI and a strikeout. He feels his at-bats were better in the last two games, but especially on Saturday.
Turner said, "The statistics aren't crazy, but the quality of at-bats is a lot higher. I'm putting it into play and doing what I want. I feel much more confident. Feel more confident."I feel like I'm getting somewhere."
Marcell Ozuna, with a runner at second and two outs, hit a liner to Alec Bohm in the bottom of the 4th inning. Bohm dived and nailed Ozuna from his knees at first base. The game could have ended differently if Bohm hadn't made the play. Craig Kimbrel relieved Wheeler in the ninth inning and gave up a single home run, cutting the Phillies' advantage from 2-0 down to 2-1.
