5 Best individual Phillies’ performances of 2021

#4 Philadelphia Phillies individual performance: Zack Wheeler shutout

The second of two complete-game shutouts for Zack Wheeler came on August 8, at home to the New York Mets. The eventual gem never had a chance to become a no-hit bid, as Brandon Nimmo started the game with a double on the fifth pitch.

Wheeler retired Jeff McNeil, Pete Alonso, and Dominic Smith to strand Nimmo at second base and begin a dominant outing against his former team. The right-handed pitcher retired his next 22 batters following that lead-off hit, with Michael Conforto becoming the next baserunner for the Mets, on a walk in the eighth inning.

Wheeler allowed just one more batter to reach base in the game, with Nimmo hitting a one-out single in the ninth inning. The game ended on a strikeout to Alonso, one of 11 strikeouts for Wheeler. Alonso, Smith, and pitcher Taijuan Walker each struck out twice, while nine outs came via a groundout.

Zack Wheeler stat line: 9 IP (CG, 108 pitches), 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 11 SO

Wheeler’s other complete-game shutout came on May 6, at home to the Milwaukee Brewers, where he gave up just three hits and struck out eight. He threw 118 pitches in that game. By season’s end, he led MLB in both complete games (3) and shutouts (2).

#3 Philadelphia Phillies individual performance: Bryce Harper 5-hit game

Unsurprisingly, Bryce Harper’s MVP-winning season featured multiple games where he fell just a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. But it was a July 6 game at the Chicago Cubs that stood out.

Harper helped get the action going early against a former teammate when he singled off Jake Arrieta in the first inning. That loaded the bases for Andrew McCutchen, who hit a grand slam. Harper singled against Arrieta for the second time in the second inning to load the bases once again.

The right-fielder faced Trevor Williams in the fourth inning, with runners on first and second base and nobody out. He hit a ground-rule double on the second pitch to drive in Jean Segura. His lone out came against Williams in the sixth inning, with a groundout to second base.

Harper returned to the plate in the seventh inning, with the Phillies leading 12-4. With two runners on base and a new pitcher in the game, Harper hit a home run to right field on the first pitch from Dan Winkler. The home run also gave him a chance at the cycle, with his one opportunity coming in the ninth inning, where he had to settle for a single against Brad Wieck.

Bryce Harper stat line: 5-6, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI

#2 Philadelphia Phillies individual performance: Brad Miller 3-home run game

As a bench player and spot starter on the Phillies, Brad Miller was an unlikely offensive leader against the Chicago Cubs on July 8 at Wrigley Field. He started at first base in a weekday game broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Miller was a quick out in the first inning, grounding out on the second pitch from Adbert Alzolay. With the Phillies ahead 1-0, he faced Alzolay again in the third inning, this time hitting a two-out solo home run.

Miller one-upped his previous at-bat again, when he faced Alzolay in the fifth inning, with a runner on second base and two outs. With two strikes against him, Miller hit a home run along the right-field line to give the Phillies a 4-0 lead.

Jean Segura started the seventh inning with a single against Cory Abbott, bringing Miller to the plate, having already worn the home run hat twice. He proved that he had the hot hand on the first pitch, hitting another home run along the right-field line to complete the hat trick. This marked his first career three-home run game, with the feat coming in his ninth major league season.

Brad Miller stat line: 3-5, 3 HR, 5 RBI

#1 Philadelphia Phillies individual performance: Aaron Nola 10 straight strikeouts

Arguably the best individual performance of the Phillies season came in the first game of a doubleheader, on June 25 at the New York Mets. Aaron Nola entered the game looking to redeem himself from his previous outing, where he gave up six runs in 2 1/3 innings at the San Francisco Giants.

Nola had a rough start to this game, hitting Jeff McNeil on the second pitch before giving up a double to Francisco Lindor. He then responded with consecutive strikeouts to Michael Conforto, Pete Alonso, and Dominic Smith to get out of the jam.

That was the start of a remarkable stretch for the 2018 Cy Young Award finalist. Nola struck out James McCann and Kevin Pillar to begin the bottom of the second inning before a tense moment, with a full count to Luis Guillorme. The 3-2 count didn’t last long, however, with a sixth pitch swinging strike to end the inning.

Nola found himself in the same position to start the bottom of the third inning, with a full count to pitcher Taijuan Walker before a sixth pitch strike. McNeil and Lindor came to the plate for the second time, with both striking out swinging, including a three-pitch at-bat for Lindor.

Nola struck out Conforto to start the bottom of the fourth inning before a double by Alonso snapped the streak at 10 consecutive strikeouts. Ironically, the streak tied a major league record set by Mets legend Tom Seaver in 1970. The previous Phillies franchise record was seven straight strikeouts, achieved on three occasions.

Aaron Nola stat line: 5.1 IP (99 pitches), 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 SO

Philadelphia Phillies’ individual performances: Honorable mentions

Hoskins 6-RBI game

One of Rhys Hoskins’ best games of the season was on the road, against an eventual 107-win San Francisco Giants on June 19. He hit a two-run home run against Alex Wood, with two outs in the second inning, to give the Phillies a 3-2 lead. He also had an RBI double against Zack Littell in the sixth inning and a three-run home run against Conner Menez, with two outs in the seventh inning.

Suárez complete-game shutout

Ranger Suárez’s spectacular season included a complete-game shutout in his penultimate appearance, a home start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 25. He retired 15 of his first 16 batters faced and had no more than one baserunner in a single inning. He gave up four hits but no walks, while striking out seven, in an outing where he threw just 97 pitches, also known as a Maddux game.

Miller walk-off grand slam

Brad Miller provided the exclamation point in a remarkable Phillies comeback from a 7-0 deficit in the second game of a doubleheader, on July 29 against the Washington Nationals. Miller’s two hits came late in the game. He hit a two-out single against Wander Suero in the seventh inning, which helped lead to three runs and a tied game.

Miller then came to the plate with the bases loaded and the Phillies trailing by a run in the eighth inning. He hit a grand slam on the fourth pitch from Sam Clay to end the game.

Torreyes 3-hit and 3-HR game

Ronald Torreyes carried the offense on July 11 against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. He came up with the Phillies’ first hit of the game, with a single in the third inning against former Phillie Nick Pivetta. His next plate appearance came with two outs in the fourth inning against Pivetta, where he hit a three-run home run above the “Green Monster.” He later singled in the ninth inning and also had a stolen base in the game.