PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler allowed just one run and two hits in seven innings of work Saturday while Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm, Nick Castellanos and David Dahl all homered as the Philadelphia Phillies cruised to a 12-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks .
The win allowed the Phillies to become the first National League team to reach 50 wins with a 50–26 record. The New York Yankees have recorded 51 wins entering a Saturday night game against the Braves to lead the Majors as the halfway point of the season approaches.
Castellanos had a season-high five RBIs and hit his second homer in as many days in the victory. Harper added three RBIs and hit his 18th of the season into the second deck in right field in the third inning during a 4-for-5 day at the plate. Bohm followed Harper’s shot with his eight from the second field to left center.
The top five in the Phillies’ starting batting order – Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Harper, Bohm and Castellanos – were a combined 10-for-19 with 10 runs scored and 10 RBIs on the afternoon as Philadelphia scored double figures in runs for a competition for the fifth time this season. Most of the damage was done against Arizona starter Tommy Henry (2-3).
Wheeler (9-4) bounced back from a rough outing in Baltimore last Sunday, allowing eight runs and four home runs in just 4 1/3 innings of work. He didn’t allow a baserunner until the fifth, striking out eight and allowing just one flyout before being pulled after 95 pitches after the seventh.
Tucker Barnhart accounted for Arizona’s lone run with an RBI single in the fifth inning. Jake McCarthy was the only other Diamondback to record a hit.
Dahl — who replaced Castellanos in the eighth inning — hit a two-run shot in the bottom half of the inning off Barnhart, who went from behind the plate to the mound.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: C Gabriel Moreno (sprained left thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday after leaving Friday’s game in the sixth inning. Jose Herrera was called up from Triple-A Reno. OR Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was not in the starting lineup on Saturday after leaving Friday evening’s match with elbow pain. He is considered day to day.
Phillies: INF Edmundo Sosa was removed from Saturday’s game in the sixth inning after being hit in the left elbow by a splitter from Scott McGough. The club disclosed a bruise and said the X-rays were negative. It is listed as daily. RHP Taijuan Walker has a blister on his right index finger that has left him unable to throw and control his sinker. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said the club will know Sunday whether Walker will make his next start in Detroit on Wednesday or go on the injured list.
NEXT ONE
In the latest episode, the Phillies send the newly extended LHP Cristopher Sanchez (4-3, 2.91 ERA) to the mound against Arizona RHP Slade Cecconi (2-5, 5.90).
