Zack Wheeler struck out 13 over seven strong innings on Friday as the Philadelphia Phillies topped the visiting Miami Marlins 7-2 in the opener of a three-game series.
Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber homered in support of Wheeler (2-1), who had allowed nine runs in 11 1/3 innings over his last two starts. However, he resembled his typical self in this one, allowing only five hits — four singles — and not issuing a walk while finishing with the second-highest strikeout total of his career.
The Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara (2-1) was charged with six runs on four hits and a pair of walks in two innings. After missing all of last season following Tommy John surgery, he has a 7.27 ERA through four starts this season.
Eric Wagaman hit a two-run homer for Miami, which was struck out 16 times in losing its fourth straight game.
Harper started the party in the first inning with a two-run homer off Alcantara — his fifth of the season and the third in the last four games.
Philadelphia added four more runs in the second inning, as Alec Bohm and Johan Rojas delivered RBI singles before Bryson Stott lifted a sacrifice fly. Rojas then scored on Alcantara’s second wild pitch of the inning, making it 6-0.
Wheeler overcame a pair of baserunners in the third before striking out the side on 10 pitches in the fourth. He worked around a leadoff single in the fifth, setting the stage for Schwarber’s long home run in the bottom half that made it 7-0.
Miami finally got to Wheeler in the sixth as Wagaman slammed a two-run homer, although the veteran right-hander recovered to strike out Matt Mervis to end the frame. Wheeler came back out for the seventh and again struck out all three batters to conclude his night.
Tanner Banks worked the eighth inning for the hosts before Jose Ruiz slammed the door in the ninth.
