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Kyle Schwarber's two homers, Zack Wheeler's seven scoreless innings lift Phillies to 3-0 win over Guardians

Scott Lauber, The Philadelphia Inquirer on

Published in Baseball

CLEVELAND — For three days last week in Tampa, Fla., the Phillies teed off like the pros at Philadelphia Cricket Club.

Then, they got to Cleveland.

Runs were significantly harder to come by over three games near the banks of the Cuyahoga River. But if ever a series must come down to a pitcher’s duel, it sure does help to have Zack Wheeler on the mound.

And Kyle Schwarber at the plate.

Back in the national spotlight on "Sunday Night Baseball," the National League’s best pitcher tossed seven scoreless innings and its top slugger banged two homers. Together, Wheeler and Schwarber carried the Phillies to a 3-0 victory over the Guardians and a fifth consecutive winning series.

The Phillies (24-16) have won 11 of 15 games since getting swept last month in New York. And if you’re inclined to peek at the standings in mid-May, the Phillies are keeping pace in the NL East, 1 1/2 games behind the division-leading Mets.

Schwarber continued to build a case for a nine-figure free-agent contract. He crushed a towering leadoff homer to right field in the second inning to extend his on-base streak to 46 games, the fourth-longest run in franchise history. In the seventh, he bashed a two-run shot against Guardians lefty reliever Tim Herrin.

With that, Schwarber increased his NL-leading homer total to 14. Seven of those homers have come against lefties. After struggling to hit left-handed pitchers early in his career, he batted .300 against them last season and is 16 for 50 (.320) this year.

“I see him now as a complete hitter. I really do,” manager Rob Thomson said before the game. “He uses the entire field. He takes his walks. He obviously has big-time power. He’s been really impressive through this stretch.”

Wheeler outdueled Guardians starter Luis Ortiz in one of his best starts of the season. And that’s saying something, considering Wheeler has given up two runs or less in seven of nine starts.

 

After softer-throwing Aaron Nola and Ranger Suárez in the first two games of the series, Wheeler came after the Guardians with his fastball. He averaged 95.6 mph, touched 96.8, and picked up six of his eight strikeouts on heaters.

The Guardians put up a mild threat in the sixth inning. Steven Kwan’s double and a walk to Daniel Schneeman set them up with two on and one out.

But Wheeler got tough José Ramírez to line out to center field before changing speeds brilliantly on Carlos Santana. After dotting the top of the zone with a 96.1 mph fastball, Wheeler got Santana to foul off an 84.1 mph sweeper and swing at a dirt-diving curveball.

Schwarber’s second homer provided the bullpen with more breathing room. And after Jose Alvarado tossed a scoreless eighth inning, Jordan Romano set down the heart of the Guardians’ order in the ninth.

Romano hasn’t allowed a run in five appearances in a row after getting walked off in a 10-inning loss to the Mets on April 23.

After scoring 22 runs in three games against the Rays, the Phillies got shut out Friday night in the series opener. They scored once in seven innings Saturday before feasting on the Guardians’ bullpen for six runs in the eighth.

Schwarber’s first homer was all the damage the Phillies were able to muster in six innings against Ortiz. Guardians starters Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee and Ortiz held the Phillies to two runs in 18 innings.

But with Wheeler on the mound, Schwarber’s homers were all the offense the Phillies needed.


©2025 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Visit at inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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