Castellanos comes up clutch as Phillies blank Twins 3-0

By MIKE COOK Associated Press

Nick Castellanos hit a two-run double to cap a three-run ninth inning, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Minnesota Twins 3-0 on Tuesday night.

After a scoreless duel between Phillies ace Zack Wheeler and Twins rookie Simeon Woods Richardson, Philadelphia took control in the ninth against Minnesota closer Jhoan Duran (5-5).

Making his first start since July 9, Wheeler threw seven dominant innings for Philadelphia, which has the best record in the majors (64-37). Wheeler, who skipped his last scheduled start before the All-Star break with a sore back, struck out seven, allowed three hits and walked two.

“Nothing was messing with me today, and I was encouraged by that,” Wheeler said. “It’s not what you want to do, miss a start, but sometimes it’s best for me in the long run.”

Manager Rob Thomson said Wheeler’s outing exceeded expectations.

“Took him 18 pitches to get through the first two hitters and he gave us seven innings. I thought he got better as the game went on,” Thomson said.

Woods Richardson allowed three hits and one walk and struck out five in six innings. The playoff-contending Twins have lost three of four since the All-Star break.

Bryce Harper doubled to the left-field corner with one out against Duran, and Alec Bohm walked. With an increasingly vocal “Let’s Go Phillies” chant behind the visitor’s dugout, Duran walked J.T. Realmuto before Brandon Marsh hit a sacrifice fly.

Castellanos lined 3-2, 101 mph fastball down the right-field line for a double and a three-run lead. He has seven extra-base hits and nine RBIs in his past seven games.

Castellanos is hitting .266 in July after a .276 June. He hit .183 in April and .229 in May.

“I like where I’m at, I like my swing. I don’t think I’m giving away too many at-bats,” he said.

Matt Strahm worked the ninth for his first save of the season.

Minnesota nearly broke through in the eighth, but Gregory Soto (2-3) got pinch-hitter Ryan Jeffers to hit into a force play with the bases loaded to end the threat.

“We got guys on base. … When it came down to bringing the runs home, we just didn’t bring them home,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said.

Neither team sent more than four men to the plate in the first seven innings.

Wheeler threw 107 pitches in his NL-best 15th quality start. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 16 of 20 starts.

This was the first time in 19 games a Philadelphia starter went at least seven innings. The Phillies are 26-1 this season when their starter goes at least that far and have won 26 straight. That’s the longest such streak in Phillies history and the second-longest in major league history. St. Louis had 42 straight in 1942.

Woods Richardson took a no-decision for the 14th time in 18 starts. He threw 88 pitches, nine off his season high.

“It sounds vanilla as can be, but I’m just doing my job. There’s only so many things you control in this game. As long as I can stay in my lane and do my job, I’m pretty good,” Woods Richardson said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: 3B Royce Lewis began a rehab assignment at Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday. He’s been out since July 3 with a right adductor strain after missing 61 games earlier this season with a strained quadriceps. … Out since July 11 with a lower back strain, INF Jose Miranda worked out at Target Field Tuesday and is expected to join St. Paul Wednesday to start his rehab assignment.

UP NEXT FOR THE PHILLIES AND TWINS

RHP Aaron Nola (11-4, 3.54 ERA) is scheduled to start for Philadelphia in Wednesday’s series finale. Reliever Steven Okert (3-1, 4.40) will open for Minnesota. “We’re going to throw a bunch of guys tomorrow,” Baldelli said.