Philadelphia Phillies Drop Game One to Atlanta Braves in Pitching Duel

The Philadelphia Phillies (73-52) and Atlanta Braves (67-58) had the first of many playoff-feel games to come this season. In a pitcher's duel for the ages, the Phillies came up short, dropping game one 3-1.

Wheeler's Night

Zack Wheeler (12-6, 2.73 ERA) was sharp on Tuesday, but it was not enough.

Wheeler worked a strong six innings, generating 20 whiffs and 12 called strikes on his 97 pitches for a 33 percent CSW. This led to eight strikeouts on the night, his most in one game since his August 9th start.

Despite the eight strikeouts, he allowed eight hits and two earned runs, and those runs would prove too much for the Phillies' offense to overcome.

The first run came in the third inning. Former Phillie Whit Merrifield led off the inning with a triple down the right-field line, and Michael Harris II would bring him home on a single.

The second run would come on a home run from Marcell Ozuna that led off the sixth inning.

Wheeler's final line would hold six innings, six hits, no walks, two earned runs, and eight strikeouts.

Notables

• Alec Bohm extended his MLB-leading on-base streak to 36 games.
• Braves' starter Reynaldo Lopez is the first pitcher to strike Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber out thrice in the same game.
• Manager Rob Thomson continues to have too much faith in guys. Thomson would bring Jose Alvarado in to pitch the eighth inning with the Phillies only down one. Alvarado would walk four batters in the inning, driving in the Braves third run.

WPA Leader of the Night

Tuesday's WPA leader of the night was Braves' reliever Grant Holmes . Holmes came into the game in the sixth inning, relieving Lopez, who was making his first start in three weeks.

Holmes would pitch two innings for the Braves, allowing no hits, no walks, and striking out two. His WPA score would end at 16.8.

Next Up

Next up for the Phillies is game two of this three-game series on Wednesday. The first pitch for Wednesday's game is scheduled for 7:20 PM EST. The game will be broadcast on NBC Sports Philadelphia and Bally Sports South.

Phillies fans can listen to the game on 94 WIP or WTTM 1680.