Zack Wheeler logged six effective innings as the Philadelphia Phillies hung on for a 6-5 road victory against the Miami Marlins on Friday.
Bryson Stott hit a three-run homer for Philadelphia, which improved to 4-0 under interim manager Don Mattingly. Edmundo Sosa and Alec Bohm each added two hits and an RBI for the Phillies.
Wheeler (1-0), in his second start since missing more than eight months with a blood clot in his shoulder, allowed just a run and three hits. He walked two and struck out eight to earn his first win of the season.
Miami starter Eury Perez (2-3) was charged with two runs and four hits in five innings, walking two and striking out six. Otto Lopez had three hits and two RBIs to pace the Marlins’ offensive attack.
The Marlins trailed 6-4 in the ninth when Javier Sanoja drew a leadoff walk against Brad Keller. The right-hander rebounded to strike out the next two hitters – both on borderline calls – before Lopez drilled an RBI single to make it a one-run game. Kyle Stowers and Miami manager Clayton McCullough were ejected after Stowers was called out on strikes for the second out.
However, Keller induced Xavier Edwards into a game-ending flyout to record his first save of the season.
Miami jumped on Wheeler in the first inning, as back-to-back doubles by Lopez and Edwards staked the hosts to a 1-0 lead.
Philadelphia’s offense was quiet through the first three innings. However, the visitors were able to dent the scoreboard in the fourth, as Bohm delivered a two-out RBI single and Justin Crawford followed with a run-scoring double.
Wheeler ensured that Philadelphia maintained the lead, as he struck out a pair in the fourth and two more in the fifth. The right-hander retired the side 1-2-3 in the sixth to end his night after 94 pitches.
That set the stage for the Phillies’ four-run sixth. Bryce Harper’s one-out double began the rally. He came around to score on Sosa’s two-out single before Stott followed with a three-run homer to right-center off Cade Gibson, making it 6-1.
The Marlins clawed back with three runs in the eighth against the Phillies’ bullpen.
Miami’s first three hitters reached against Jonathan Bowlan, including a run-scoring infield hit by Lopez that made it 6-2. Two batters later, Liam Hicks’ sacrifice fly tacked on another run.
Philadelphia then turned to Jose Alvarado, who yielded an RBI single to Agustin Ramirez that brought the Marlins within 6-4.
