PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Zack Wheeler returned to his All-Star form for seven innings, Bryce Harper stole three bases, including home, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 5-1 Friday night.
J.T. Realmuto hit his 10th homer and Jean Segura had a tiebreaking, two-run double in helping Philadelphia snap a three game losing streak. The Phillies moved ahead of Atlanta into second place in the NL East, four games behind the division-leading New York Mets.
“Right now, we’re just going out there and trying to play our game,” Harper said. “We’re 1-1 against the Braves right now, we have two more games this weekend against the Braves and then we have to go into Washington.”
Wheeler (8-5) has been stellar at Citizens Bank Park this season, going 5-2 with a 2.08 ERA in 12 starts at the notoriously friendly hitter’s park. He mixed pitches and had the Braves out in front of a lot of pitches. He worked his way out of his biggest trouble in the fifth inning, coaxing Austin Riley to ground out to short to get out of a bases loaded jam. He allowed one run on seven hits, striking out eight while walking two.
It was a reassuring sight for the Phillies, who saw Wheeler allow 11 runs – eight earned – in just 11 2/3 innings during his last two starts.