Shaky Wheels: Padres Edge Phillies 5-4

A Bitter End to the Pre-All-Star Break Series

Zack Wheeler faced a tough night as the Philadelphia Phillies fell 5-4 to the San Diego Padres in their final series before the All-Star break. The loss was marked by a combination of poor pitching and missed opportunities at the plate, leaving the team with a disappointing finish to the first half of the season.

Wheeler struggled to maintain control of the game, giving up two home runs to Jackson Merrill and failing to hold leads that were built by the Phillies’ offense. His performance was particularly concerning, as he allowed more runs than he had in his previous six starts combined. Despite early support from the batting lineup, the team was unable to capitalize on key moments, finishing just 3-13 with runners in scoring position.

Early Lead for the Phillies

The Phillies started strong against Padres starter Yu Darvish, who made an error in the second inning that allowed Alec Bohm to score on a single by Nick Castellanos. Bohm was hit by a pitch, and Castellanos followed with another single, forcing Darvish to make a throw that went awry.

J.T. Realmuto added to the early lead with a double that brought Castellanos home, giving the Phillies a 2-0 advantage. Realmuto’s performance this month has been impressive, as he is hitting .379 with an .862 OPS, including 16 doubles on the year.

The Padres Strike Back

Despite an early lead, the Phillies found themselves trailing after a strong second inning from the Padres. Zack Wheeler retired the first three batters of the game, but the tide turned quickly. Gavin Sheets led off the bottom of the second with a double, and Jackson Merrill tied the game with a home run.

Jake Cronenworth followed with a double, and Martin Maldonado delivered a single that plated Cronenworth, giving the Padres a 3-2 lead. Wheeler managed to strike out Fernando Tatis Jr. to end the inning, but the damage had already been done, as the Padres recorded three extra-base hits and scored three runs.

A Brief Comeback

The Phillies had a chance to reclaim the lead in the fifth inning when Darvish was struggling. Max Kepler walked, and Brandon Marsh followed with a single to put runners on base. However, the opportunity fizzled when Trea Turner struck out and Kyle Schwarber also failed to drive in a run.

Darvish stayed in the game long enough to face Bryce Harper, who worked a seven-pitch at-bat to load the bases. Edmundo Sosa, entering as a pinch hitter, delivered a crucial two-run single to put the Phillies back ahead 4-3. Sosa's clutch hit was a bright spot for the team, but it wouldn’t last long.

Another Setback

Merrill once again proved to be a thorn in the side of Wheeler, hitting a second home run in the sixth inning. This marked the first time Wheeler allowed two home runs to the same batter since 2021. It was also Merrill’s first multi-home run game since May 27th, ending a rough July where he had been hitting just 3-35.

Wheeler left the game after the sixth inning, having given up four runs on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts. His performance highlighted the struggles the Phillies have faced in recent games.

Missed Chances

The Phillies had another chance to tie the game in the seventh inning. With runners on second and third, Edmundo Sosa attempted to drive them in with a soft grounder, but Manny Machado’s throw to first was just fast enough to get him out.

Tanner Banks took over in the seventh and allowed two singles to Tatis and Luis Arraez, putting runners on the corners. Jordan Romano came in to try and stop the bleeding, but a deep fly ball from Machado scored Tatis and gave the Padres the lead for good.

Final Moments

The Phillies managed to get a pair of runners on in the eighth inning, but they couldn’t advance the tying run. Brandon Marsh popped out to end the inning, and the top of the order went down 1-2-3 in the ninth to seal the loss.

Upcoming Matchup

The Phillies will look to bounce back tomorrow when Cristopher Sánchez (7-2, 2.59) takes the mound against former teammate Nick Pivetta (9-2, 3.07). The game is scheduled for 4:10 PM, marking the conclusion of the first half of the season.