The Philadelphia Phillies continued their strong push in the National League playoff race Monday night, riding a dominant performance from Zack Wheeler and a memorable first career hit by rookie Gabriel Rincones Jr. to a 7-0 victory over the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park.
Wheeler was in complete control from the outset, striking out nine batters across six scoreless innings while allowing just two hits. The veteran right-hander improved to 6-1 on the season and lowered his ERA to an impressive 2.01 through 10 starts.
Miami threatened briefly in the opening inning when Liam Hicks led off with a single and Otto Lopez followed with a walk. Wheeler quickly erased any momentum by striking out four consecutive batters, setting the tone for a dominant outing that never allowed the Marlins to gain traction.
The Phillies offense supplied plenty of support, highlighted by a milestone moment for Rincones. Playing in just his second major league game, the young outfielder launched an 84-mph slider from Marlins starter Ryan Gusto into the right-field seats in the second inning for his first career hit and first career home run, giving Philadelphia a 1-0 lead.
Rincones wasn’t finished. In the third inning, he added another RBI with a bases-loaded groundout, extending the Phillies’ advantage to 2-0. His emergence comes at an important time for Philadelphia after right fielder Adolis García was placed on the 60-day injured list with a right lat tear.
The Phillies broke the game open in the middle innings. Bryce Harper contributed an RBI as Philadelphia steadily built its lead before J.T. Realmuto delivered the biggest blow of the night. The veteran catcher hammered a first-pitch slider from Gusto over the left-field wall for a two-run homer in the fifth inning, pushing the Phillies’ lead to 5-0 and effectively putting the contest out of reach.
Brandon Marsh continued his outstanding season at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a double. Entering the game with the fourth-highest batting average among qualified major league hitters, Marsh raised his average to .324.
Gusto fell to 0-2 after surrendering five runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. Miami managed only four hits all night, with Hicks accounting for half of them. Despite the defeat, the Marlins had entered the game having won 10 of their previous 12 contests in June.
Philadelphia’s bullpen completed the shutout with three scoreless innings. Tim Mayza, Jonathan Bowlan, and Chase Shugart each worked a clean frame to preserve the team’s dominant pitching performance.
The victory improved the Phillies to 30-14 under interim manager Don Mattingly. Philadelphia began the night in second place in the National League East, trailing the Atlanta Braves by eight games while holding the league’s second wild-card position.
There was one injury concern for the Phillies when shortstop Trea Turner exited after being hit by a pitch on his right wrist in the sixth inning. Fortunately for Philadelphia, postgame X-rays came back negative. Mattingly said Turner suffered a right wrist contusion and is considered day-to-day.
The three-game series continues Tuesday night when Miami sends right-hander Tyler Phillips (1-1, 1.86 ERA) to the mound against Phillies left-hander Jesús Luzardo (5-4, 4.35 ERA).
