PHILADELPHIA — Zack Wheeler tossed seven strong innings and J.T. Realmuto and Nick Castellanos homered to help Philadelphia complete a three-game sweep of the World Series champion Texas Rangers with a 5-2 win Thursday, the Phillies’ seventh series sweep this season.
“We’re all having a lot of fun doing it,” Castellanos said.
With good reason. It’s been 132 years in the making — the Phillies are 29-6 over their last 35 games, which matches the best 35-game span in franchise history, last done in 1892.
Not the world champs, not a 45-minute weather delay, not even twice wasting bases-loaded opportunities could stop a Phillies team that won its sixth straight game and has steamrolled through the spring.
Not even weekday baseball could curtail attendance — with a sellout crowd of 42,377 stuffed inside Citizens Bank Park to watch the Phillies finish a 7-1 homestand and improve to 22-8 at home. They are 37-14 and have the best record in baseball, with a slew of notable achievements stuffed inside that record.
Such as, 17-3 in May. Or the Phillies either split or won each of their last 15 series, the longest span since a 19-series stretch in 1984.
And the Phillies improved to 15-3 since they lost two-time All-Star shortstop Trea Turner to a left hamstring injury.
Asked before the game if he had any real concerns with this year’s team, manager Rob Thomson could only offer the threat of complacency.
But Thomson added the thought of any self-satisfaction inside the clubhouse was a stretch, especially after last season’s loss in the NL Championship Series to Arizona and the 2022 World Series loss to Houston.
“I don’t think so, not with this group, especially after the last two years,” Thomson said. “And the people that we’ve brought in have joined in on that motivation. I think we’ve got a really good group.”
Wheeler (6-3) won his sixth straight decision (over seven starts) and allowed five hits and two runs. He gave up Adolis Garcia’s solo homer in the second inning and another run in the seventh.
Phillies starters have pitched at least seven innings in 18 starts this year, the most in baseball.
“I think we all have that mentality of going seven-plus every time,” Wheeler said. “If you don’t, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. But that’s our goal. We have goals every time out and that’s one of them.”
Jose Alvarado worked a scoreless eighth and Jeff Hoffman pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
YANKEES 5, MARINERS 0 Luis Gil allowed one hit in 6 1/3 innings, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge homered early off Luis Castillo and New York beat Seattle to split their four-game series. Gil (6-1) retired his first nine batters before giving up an infield single to J.P. Crawford in the fourth. The right-hander struck out eight and walked three after whiffing 14 to set a Yankees rookie record Saturday against the White Sox.
ATHLETICS 10, ROCKIES 9 (11) Tyler Soderstrom drew a bases-loaded walk to cap a five-run 11th inning and Oakland stunned Colorado in the rubber match of a three-game series. Oakland trailed 9-5 before Max Schuemann doubled home a run to start the winning rally. Abraham Toro followed with an RBI single, and JJ Bleday tied the score with a two-run homer. Peter Lambert (2-3) loaded the bases on an intentional walk to Kyle McCann before walking Soderstrom to force in the winning run.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
GIANTS 7, PIRATES 6
Paul Skenes allowed one run over six solid innings but San Francisco rallied against Pittsburgh’s bullpen for a win. Matt Chapman hit a three-run homer off Hunter Stratton (1-1) in the eighth and Brett Wisely delivered a go-ahead single off Aroldis Chapman five batters later as the Giants overcame a big deficit for the second time in less than 24 hours. San Francisco trailed by five early in a 9-5 extra-inning victory on Wednesday.
PADRES 6, REDS 4 (10) Fernando Tatis Jr. doubled home the tiebreaking run in the 10th inning and San Diego beat reeling Cincinnati to secure a series win. Luis Arraez, who had 10 hits in the three-game set, reached on a bunt single leading off the 10th that sent automatic runner Luis Campasano from second base to third. Tatis ripped a double down the left-field line off Sam Moll (0-1) to drive in Campusano, and Arraez scored on Jake Cronenworth’s sacrifice fly.
BRAVES 3, CUBS 0 Jarred Kelenic hit a solo homer, rookie AJ Smith-Shawver worked 4 1/3 three-hit innings in his first start of the season and Atlanta topped Chicago. The Braves have won two straight games and three of four after a four-game skid. Smith-Shawver, one of Atlanta’s top pitching prospects, combined with five relievers for a four-hitter. The 21-year-old right-hander, recalled from Class AAA Gwinnett for the game, struck out four and walked two.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
BLUE JAYS 9, TIGERS 1 Kevin Gausman struck out a season-best 10 in six innings, Daulton Varsho hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh and Toronto pulled away for a victory over skidding Detroit. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Isiah Kiner-Falefa also went deep as the Blue Jays (23-26) won for the fourth time in five games. Bo Bichette had three hits. Detroit (23-27) has lost five straight.
Philadelphia Phillies’ Edmundo Sosa reacts after hitting a double against Texas Rangers pitcher Andrew Heaney during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux, from left, pitcher Andrew Heaney and catcher Andrew Knizner talk on the mound during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien, right, throws to first after forcing out Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper at second on a double play hit into by Alec Bohm during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Texas Rangers’ Andrew Heaney pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Phillies’ Zack Wheeler pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Texas Rangers’ Adolis Garcia follows through after hitting a home run against Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler during the second inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Texas Rangers’ Travis Jankowski, left, steals second under Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Edmundo Sosa during the second inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
