Phillies drop first series in San Diego since 2018

SAN DIEGO – With four of the Padres’ top relievers all pitching in back-to-back days and starter Yu Darvish on a pitch limit, the Phillies had a great opportunity to bounce back from Friday night’s 4-2 loss. 

But Zack Wheeler was not at his best after throwing a complete game for the first time since 2021, and the Phillies could not score against the rest of the Padre bullpen in a 5-4 loss. As a result, the Phillies have dropped their first series at Petco Park since 2018. 

Wheeler said after the game that his mechanics were not in sync from the beginning. He made an adjustment with two outs in the third inning. 

Facing the aggressive San Diego lineup for the second time in less than two weeks, Wheeler had a more cautious approach. 

“Facing a good lineup almost back-to-back, you don’t try to second guess yourself,” Wheeler said. “But just be a little bit more careful.” 

He gave up two home runs in a game for the first time this season. Both came against the no-longer struggling Padres superstar Jackson Merrill. Both pitches were in the upper third of the plate.

It was the first time Merrill had homered in a game since May 17. He nearly hit his third homer of the game against Matt Strahm in the bottom of the eighth, but the ball died at the left field warning track.

“He likes to swing up there,” Wheeler said about Merrill. “You almost have to just play his game and just go a little bit higher. Caleb (Cotham) and J.T. both said it was a good pitch. At the same time, it wasn’t a good pitch just because you kind of have to play his game and go higher than high.” 

Wheeler will finish the first half with a 2.36 ERA. Instead of pitching in the All-Star Game in his hometown of Atlanta, Wheeler will take time to recharge.  

“For the most part, I’ve been consistent,” Wheeler said about his first half. “It’s always kind of my thing, just to be the best version of myself every time out.” 

Third baseman Alec Bohm exited the game in the fourth inning due to a left rib cage contusion. He was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat. His replacement, Edmundo Sosa, came through in the top of the fifth with a two-run single.

Manager Rob Thomson said after the game that he doubts Bohm plays in Sunday’s first-half finale. 

Otto Kemp singled off the bench in the top of the eighth inning to set up runners at the corners with two outs for Brandon Marsh. Marsh popped up to shortstop against lefty Yuki Matsui. 

Pitching for a third straight day, Padres reliever Jeremiah Estrada set down the top of the Phillies’ lineup to wrap up the win for San Diego.