Sometimes, it’s all about the star players stepping up.
Kyle Schwarber homered twice and Zack Wheeler dominated the Cleveland Guardians’ lineup over seven innings in a 3-0 win on Sunday Night Baseball to clinch a series victory over one of the best teams in the American League. The Phillies (24-16) will fly home late Sunday after going 5-1 on the road trip. Since being swept by the Mets in New York, the Phillies are 11-4.
The Phillies’ star designated hitter gave his team a 1-0 lead in the top of the second against starter Luis L. Ortiz. The solo shot, his 13th home run of the year, extended his on-base streak to 46 games. It’s the fourth-longest on-base streak in Phillies history, trailing Bobby Abreu (48), Chuck Klein (49) and Mike Schmidt (56).
With the game still 1-0 in the eighth and lefty reliever Tim Herrin in, Schwarber caught another mistake pitch, a 93 mph sinker down the middle, and crushed it to right center field for a two-run home run to make it 3-0.
Wheeler cruised through the Guardians lineup, striking out eight and walking only two through seven shutout innings. He recorded four 1-2-3 innings and had his elevated fastball working. His season ERA is down to 2.95.
A pair of scoreless innings from José Alvarado and Jordan Romano secured the Phillies’ second shutout of the season. Romano has thrown five consecutive scoreless outings. His ERA is down from 15.26 after allowing six earned runs to the Marlins on April 19 to 8.79.
The Phillies will open a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night in Philadelphia. Two lefties will face off, with Cristopher Sánchez slated to start for the Phillies and Matthew Liberatore on the mound for the Cardinals.
