Philadelphia Phillies (55-47) at Pittsburgh Pirates (45-57)
Game 1 – Phillies win 2-1 behind a brilliant Zack Wheeler performance - W: Wheeler (8-5, 3.74, L: Keller (9-7, 3.97), S: Kimbrel (17)
Zack Wheeler has been good all season despite his 3.74 era but today he was terrific. Wheeler had everything going in his arsenal and was striking out the Pirates hitters almost at will. The only thing he needed was the run support from the offense. The Phillies threatened in the first two innings, getting guys in scoring position but then not getting that clutch hit to bring them in. Schwarber led the game off with a bloop double but Turner, who had two days off, struck out again, followed by a bizarre steal attempt that got Schwarber picked off and then a Harper strike out. In the second, Bryson Stott doubled but Realmuto grounded out and Bohm lined out to center. Finally in the third inning, the offense broke through. Marsh walked and Schwarber came to the plate with one out. He belted the first pitch he saw 406 feet to the opposite way for his 27th homerun. The Phillies finally take the early lead at 2-0. Wheeler was cruising until the bottom of the 4th when he ran into some trouble. A single and a walk out two men on with one out for Ji Man Choi who lined a double to the right field corner. Easily scoring one and looked like it would score McCutchen from first but the third base coach inexplicably held McCutchen has he started to round third. Wheeler was able to get the next two batter for no more damage and the inning ended 2-1. That mistake of holding a McCutchen would wind up being costly. Both teams couldn’t get anything going when in the bottom of the 7th the skies opened up and a rain delay was called. When play resumed, Jeff Hoffman threw one pitch, a strike, to strikeout Jared Triolo who was down in the count 1-2 when the game went into delay. Hoffman and Soto helped save the lead in the 8th despite allowing two singles in the inning with a well timed double play by Soto. Kimbrel came in and shut the door for his 17th save on the season as the Phillies won 2-1.