Miller’s gamewinner a consolation shot for frustrated fans

PHILADELPHIA >> For one night at least, Brad Miller put an end to the booing that accompanies Phillies pitching changes.

Mired in an 0-for-23 slump, Miller belted a pinch-hit RBI double, scoring Andrew McCutchen and giving the Phillies a 4-3 win over the San Diego Padres at rainy Citizens Bank Park.

Miller blasted an 0-2 pitch from Austin Adams off the wall in centerfield. While teammates mistook it for a home run, he circled the bases while the scoreboard operator posted it as a 6-3 victory.

“Personal struggles, the team, playing a good team like them, it definitely felt good,” Miller said. “I knew they didn’t catch it so I didn’t care. I knew it didn’t go out but why not just hit all the bags and take the scenic route.”

Until then what was left of a crowd of 22,653 expressed its displeasure each time manager Joe Girardi walked to the mound.

First it was when Girardi took Zack Wheeler out after 114 pitches through 7 2/3 innings, with the Phillies holding a 3-0 lead. That gave Wheeler 14.2 straight scoreless frames.

Then it was when Girardi pulled Jose Alvarado, who gave up two walks and a hit in 2/3 of an inning, setting the table for the 24th blown save by the bullpen. Ranger Suarez earned his boos by himself as he allowed a two-out, two-run double to Jurickson Profar, knotting the game.

Wheeler said he thanked Girardi after the manager was booed, for letting him pitch into the eighth inning.

“I get the (fans’) frustration,” said Wheeler, who struck out nine Padres. “I take Joe’s back on this. I totally understand it. I understand the fans doing that but there’s more to it than just tonight.”

Wheeler has allowed just three earned runs in his last 31.2 innings. He limited a potent Padres lineup featuring NL home run leader Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado to four hits. Tatis rapped a double, Machado a single on Wheeler’s watch.

“Obviously with (Jacob) deGrom doing what he’s doing it doesn’t get talked about enough,” Miller said. “DeGrom has been amazing, historic. But what our guy is doing is Cy Young, MVP, it’s all of it. He’s just on the corners with power stuff. He’s a workhorse.”

For now, Wheeler will take the victory.

“Tonight’s a big win against a very good team,” he said. “Hopefully we can start a little run.”

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Shortstop Didi Gregorius played for the first time since May, going on the injured list for an extended stay with elbow issues. In his first game back, Gregorius homered in three trips to the plate.

Infielder Nick Maton, batting .265 with two home runs and 13 RBIs, five of those in the last four games, was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

“Last week he played about as well as anybody on the team,” Girardi said of the rookie infielder. “But we want him to play every day. We don’t want him to play once a week and sit on the bench, maybe get a pinch-hit here.”

Rookie Luke Williams is more useful to the Phillies as he plays infield and outfield and is a righthanded batter. That makes him perfect for the double switches Girardi likes.

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Bryce Harper finished tied for eighth in All-Star voting for outfielders with Juan Soto of the Nationals, both garnering six percent of the vote.

Ronald Acuna Jr. (Braves, 21 percent) and Nick Castellanos (18 percent) and Jesse Winker (16 percent) of the Reds are the NL starters.

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NOTES >> The Phillies are retiring the No. 34 worn by the late Roy Halladay Sunday, Aug. 8 at Citizens Bank Park. All fans get a Halladay retired number statue. The late David Montgomery will be honored Aug. 6, Manny Trillo Aug. 7. All will have their names added to the Phillies Wall of Fame.