Zack Wheeler looked nearly unhittable over seven innings as the Philadelphia Phillies swept the season series against the San Diego Padres following a 6-4 win at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday afternoon. Nearly every hitter in the starting lineup recorded a hit as small ball offense combined to plate the majority of runs in the sixth straight win against San Diego this season. Philadelphia improves to 33-29 on the 2026 campaign and has seven victories in its last 10 ballgames.
Bryson Stott's single to left field scored Bryce Harper in the fourth to break the string of zeros on the oversized scoreboard in left field. Adolis Garcia doubled the lead to 2-0 with a solo home run to open the bottom half of the fifth frame, his first longball trot since May 6 against the Athletics. Justin Crawford’s speed led to a run later in the inning after a throwing error by Padres’ reliever Yuki Matsui for a 3-0 Phillies advantage.
Bryce Johnson broke up Wheeler’s no-hit bid with a single in the sixth inning, while Manny Machado erased the shutout with a two-run home run in the top of the seventh. The 36-year-old Phillies starter was removed after the seventh inning following 104 pitches. Wheeler allowed two hits, two earned runs, three walks, and eight strikeouts to pick up his fifth win of the 2026 season.
The Phillies scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning as the offense roared to life. Crawford’s wheels were on display after a leadoff walk, which was followed by a swipe of second base and a free pass to third base on a throwing error from catcher Freddy Fermin. Crawford scored on a Trea Turner line drive single to right field for a 4-2 lead, while the Phillies shortstop scored on a Brandon Marsh fielder’s choice later in the inning to extend the lead further, 5-2. Alec Bohm’s single up the middle allowed Harper to score the Phillies sixth (and final) run of the afternoon. It is the first time the Phillies' offense has surged past the 4-run threshold in nearly two weeks, with the last 4+ run performance coming on May 18 against the Cincinnati Reds.
Jose Alvarado entered with a four-run lead, but his appearance encountered a rocky start. He walked Ty France to open the inning before Merrill pounded a ball over the right field wall for a two-run round-tripper to narrow the gap to 6-4. Alvardo locked in to retire Xander Bogaerts, Miguel Andujar, and Jase Bowen to lock the Phillies victory.
Next up, the Chicago White Sox (33-29) arrive for a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park starting tomorrow night. Chicago will be without its best hitter after Munetaka Murakami (20 HRs) was placed on the 10-day injured list on June 1 with a hamstring injury and is not with the team on this road trip. Friday night’s first pitch between Jesus Luzardo (4-4, 4.30 ERA) and Anthony Kay (5-1, 3.77 ERA) is scheduled for 6:40 pm in South Philadelphia.
