Bohm, Wheeler spark Phillies to win over Cardinals
ST. LOUIS » Alec Bohm hit two solo home runs, Zack Wheeler outpitched Adam Wainwright and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 Friday night.
Bohm homered 419 feet to center field to lead off the sixth inning for the Phillies’ first run. He hit his sixth homer of the season into the left field seats with two outs in the eighth for his first career multihomer game.
“It’s really cool,” said Bohm, who hails from Omaha, Nebraska, and had many family members and friends at the game. “It’s what you work for. To come out and see it happen is fun.”
Bohm had not homered since June 6.
“With that guy, you’re expecting anything on any count. He’s been doing it so good for so long,” Bohm said about Wainwright. “I’m from the Midwest, he was throwing World Series games when I was growing up and here we are. So that’s pretty cool.”
The first of a four-game series began with a 56-minute rain delay.
The Phillies won for the sixth time in eight games, and the Cardinals have lost seven of their last eight.
Wheeler (8-4) duplicated his performance from Sunday night against St. Louis by pitching seven scoreless innings.
“You don’t see that too often,” Philadelphia manger Rob Thomson said. “He was dynamite.”
The right-hander limited the Cardinals to five hits with one walk and struck out five.
“It’s a tough challenge. Good lineup. Good team,” Wheeler said. “You think about it coming in. We stayed with the plan for the most part on how to attack them. We never had to go to Plan B.”
Seranthony Domínguez pitched the eighth, and Brad Hand came in for the ninth to get his fourth save in five opportunities. It was Hand’s 130th career save in his 499th game.
The 40-year-old Wainwright (6-7) pitched nine innings for his longest outing this season. He allowed five hits and struck out three with no walks.
It was Wainwright’s 28th complete game, most among active MLB pitchers. It was his fifth career loss when pitching a complete game.
“That’s a team of power hitters over there,” Wainwright said. “Bohm got me. That’s what a good lineup does. Wheeler was outstanding. He’s just great.”
He made his fifth consecutive start without Yadier Molina behind the plate. The last time Wainwright made five starts without Molina was a six-start stretch from July 14-Aug. 10, 2019, when Molina was out with a right thumb tendon sprain.
Roster move
Phillies: Recalled RHP Michael Kelly from TripleA Lehigh Valley . ... LHP Bailey Falter was optioned to Lehigh Valley . ... LHP Kent Emanuel was activated from the 60-day Injured List and optioned to Lehigh Valley. To make room for Emanuel on the 40-man roster, the club designated LHP Sam Clay for assignment.
Trainer’s room
Phillies: INF Johan Camargo (strained right knee) began a rehab assignment as Triple-A Lehigh Valley’s DH on Friday and is scheduled to play the infield Saturday and Sunday. ... RHP Connor Brogdon (COVID-19) pitched one inning in a rehab assignment Thursday with Lehigh Valley. He is scheduled to pitch another inning Saturday.