PHILADELPHIA -- Zack Wheeler is making another strong case to win his first National League Cy Young Award.
He’s pushing hard to start for the NL in the All-Star Game in his hometown of Atlanta, too.
Wheeler struck out 10 in eight scoreless innings in Monday night’s 4-0 victory over the Padres at Citizens Bank Park. The right-hander allowed six hits and walked none. It is the third time this season Wheeler has struck out 10 or more batters in a game without issuing a walk, tying Logan Webb, Tarik Skubal and Spencer Schwellenbach for the most in the Majors.
It capped an incredible month. Wheeler went 2-1 with a 0.58 ERA over five starts in June. Since 1912, he is only the fourth Phillies pitcher to post a 0.60 ERA or under with 30 or more innings pitched in a month, joining Cliff Lee (0.21 ERA in June 2011 and 0.45 ERA in August 2011), Tommy Greene (0.29 ERA in May 1991) and Lee Meadows (0.23 ERA in July 1919).
“I don’t think I’ve had a pitcher that, whether I’m coaching or managing, that has had a month like that,” manager Rob Thomson said. “Maybe I have, but he was pretty much dominant the whole month. ... I would think that either him or Ranger [Suárez] would be [NL] Pitcher of the Month, I would think. Just efficient, strike-throwing ability, command, velocity. He had it all.”
Suárez went 3-2 with a 1.30 ERA in six June starts.
Cristopher Sánchez went 2-1 with a 1.85 ERA in five starts.
Jesús Luzardo went 2-2 with a 2.78 ERA in his last four starts this month.
“We always say it’s good competition,” Wheeler said. “Ranger went out and did his thing [Sunday]. Sanchy, I hope he outperforms me tomorrow. It’s great competition. I think that’s what drives us to be better. We look at each other. We watch each other. We just try to learn and be the best we can.”
“Just being an All-Star in general is an honor,” Wheeler said.
Asked how he keeps putting up zeros at 35 years old, Wheeler said, “I couldn’t tell you. I’m throwing strikes, the velo is still there and I’m just executing. J.T. [Realmuto] is a big part of my game. I love throwing to him. He probably knows my stuff better than me. I’m out there just following him along and just trying to throw what he calls and just execute it.”
Wheeler threw 95 pitches in seven innings against the Padres, but Thomson let Wheeler start the eighth with an extra day of rest coming before his next start.
“I love it,” Wheeler said. “That’s what I want to do.”
Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill robbed Max Kepler of a three-run homer in the third, but the Phillies countered with heads-up baserunning in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead.
Bryson Stott walked and stole second base before he sprinted to third on Brandon Marsh’s ground ball up the first-base line.
Padres first baseman Luis Arraez fielded the ball a couple feet behind the infield dirt. Arraez spun around and underhanded the ball to knuckleballer Matt Waldron, who found himself in an unexpected footrace to the bag.
Marsh beat Waldron as Stott rounded third.
Waldron’s momentum carried him toward right field, when he turned to see Stott racing home. He threw to the plate, but he missed his mark. Padres catcher Martín Maldonado reached behind him to catch the ball, then reached back to tag Stott at the plate. Stott slid headfirst safely to score a run and give the Phillies a 2-0 lead.
It was reminiscent of Chase Utley’s famous second-to-home play at Turner Field on Aug. 9, 2006.
“I turn around and I hear everyone yelling, and I just see this big cloud of dust and I’m like, ‘Atta boy, Stotter,’” Marsh said.
Marsh stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Trea Turner’s infield single to make it 3-0.
“Those are the types of things you need to do to win games against good pitching and playoff games,” Thomson said.
And then have somebody like Wheeler handle the rest.