Phillies 12, Brewers 0: Philadelphia's Zack Wheeler continues his dominance over Milwaukee
Todd Rosiak
There would be no carryover for the Milwaukee Brewers from Sunday's dramatic walk-off victory.
Zack Wheeler made sure of that.
The Philadelphia Phillies ace was dominant for the second time in as many starts this season against the Brewers, and things went off the rails from there for Milwaukee en route to a 12-0 Labor Day drubbing at American Family Field on Monday afternoon.
Wheeler scattered five singles, didn't issue a walk and struck out nine as he extended his run of shutout innings against Milwaukee in 2021 to 15.
"He's been as good as anybody against us," manager Craig Counsell said of Wheeler. "He's been real tough on us. There's a lot of similarity between him and Woody with their fastballs. He was tough again today."
Brandon Woodruff was shaky opposite his fellow right-hander, surrendering a season-high-tying nine hits — including two to Wheeler — and a career-high three home runs over six innings.
BOX SCORE: Philadelphia 12, Milwaukee 0
Philadelphia went deep six times in all. That tied the season high allowed by Milwaukee against the St. Louis Cardinals just three days earlier and also matched the number of hits by the offense against Wheeler and two relievers.
The Brewers failed in their bid to go 31 games over .500, which would have tied a franchise record set in 1982, and fell to 0-5 against the Phillies this season.
But there was a bit of good news as the Cincinnati Reds continued their struggles, losing to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field to keep Milwaukee's Central Division lead at 11 games while lowering its magic number to 13.
Wheeler entered the game seemingly prime for the picking, having allowed four, five, six and four earned runs in his previous four starts, with losses in three of those outings.
But it was Woodruff who was hit hard instead.
Philadelphia took a 2-0 lead three batters in as Bryce Harper followed Jean Segura's infield single with a booming homer to right-center.
Freddy Galvis, the Philles' No. 8 hitter, hit a two-out solo shot in the second. And after Woodruff worked around a pair of third-inning singles, No. 7 hitter Brad Miller led off the fourth with another long ball to increase Philadelphia's lead to 4-0.
Woodruff recovered to retire nine of the next 10 batters he faced. But with the way Wheeler was throwing the ball, it didn't really matter.
Sitting between 98 and 99 mph with his fastball for the entirety of his outing, Wheeler was never in trouble and only once – in the third – allowed more than one baserunner in an inning.
After Christian Yelich singled for the second time on the day in the sixth, Wheeler capped his outing with consecutive strikeouts of Eduardo Escobar and Omar Narváez to finish at 99 pitches.
Wheeler (12-9) needed 108 pitches for a complete-game shutout opposite Woodruff on May 6 to complete a four-game Phillies sweep at Citizens Bank Park.
"We looked at them actually," Counsell said of Wheeler's previous four starts. "He has given up runs but he's pitched pretty well, frankly. I was hopeful there was something else there but he's been pitching pretty well."
Seven of the eight hits Wheeler allowed in his 15 innings against the Brewers were singles, and he also didn't walk a batter.
"When he's throwing 98, getting in the box and seeing it, he's tough," said Woodruff. "He throws hard. That cutter he throws is late. He can hit, too. He's been really good.
"Just a workhorse for them."
Woodruff (9-8) exited after allowing a single and walk to start the seventh, finishing at 101 pitches. Brent Suter came on and loaded the bases only to emerge from the jam unscathed.
Milwaukee's offense did little after Wheeler's exit, but the same couldn't be said for Philadelphia's offense once Suter departed.
Andrew McCutchen opened the eighth with a homer off Brad Boxberger, who failed to retire any of the five batters he faced.
Segura provided the coup de grace with a grand slam off Daniel Norris two batters into the left-hander's appearance.
Backup catcher Luke Maile pitched the ninth, and opened by surrendering Miller's second homer.
The shutout was the ninth suffered by the Brewers this season, and first since Aug. 27 at Minnesota.
RECORD
Overall: 84-55
Home: 38-31
Away: 46-24
ATTENDANCE
30,192
COMING UP
Tuesday: Phillies at Brewers, 6:40 p.m. Milwaukee LHP Eric Lauer (4-5, 3.43) vs. Philadelphia RHP Aaron Nola (7-7, 4.54). TV: Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620.