Phillies Dominate Marlins 7-2 as Zack Wheeler Strikes Out 13 in Series-Opening Win

The Phillies picked up where they left off Thursday night, continuing their strong play with a dominant 7-2 victory over the Marlins on Friday at Citizens Bank Park.

Zack Wheeler delivered a stellar performance, striking out 13 Marlins batters in seven innings. He allowed just five hits, two runs, and walked no one, showcasing his command throughout the game.

The Phillies jumped to an early lead again, just like in their win over the Giants. After a solid leadoff at-bat from Bryson Stott, Trea Turner walked, and Bryce Harper crushed a slider into the right field stands for a quick 3-0 lead. The offense didn’t stop there, stretching their lead to 6-0 in the second inning as they capitalized on Sandy Alcantara’s struggles. Alcantara, needing 53 pitches to get just four outs, didn’t make it through the third inning.

Rob Thomson, the Phillies' manager, praised his team's discipline at the plate, saying they had a good approach against Alcantara. Meanwhile, Wheeler was efficient on the mound, retiring the first seven batters he faced and keeping the Marlins off balance with his fastball and split-finger pitches. Wheeler acknowledged making adjustments after his last outing and credited J.T. Realmuto for calling a great game.

The only hiccup for Wheeler came in the sixth inning when Eric Wagaman hit a two-run homer, but the Phillies' offense added insurance runs. Kyle Schwarber hit a solo home run in the fifth inning, while Tanner Banks and Jose Ruiz kept the Marlins scoreless in the later innings.

With the win, the Phillies improved to 12-8 on the season.

Injury updates: Nick Castellanos returned to the lineup after dealing with left hip flexor tightness, going 2-for-3 before being replaced by Kody Clemens in the fifth inning. Brandon Marsh missed his second straight game due to a right knee injury, but Johan Rojas stepped in and had a solid stretch in center field.

Looking ahead: The Phillies will face the Marlins on Saturday with Taijuan Walker (1-1, 2.30 ERA) on the mound against Cal Quantrill (1-1, 5.79 ERA). Jesus Luzardo (2-0, 2.31 ERA) will pitch Sunday against his former team in the series finale.

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