Phillies 5, Brewers 1: No clinch for Milwaukee as Zack Wheeler dominates for Philadelphia

Zack Wheeler Pitches Gem as Phillies Blank Brewers to Stave Off Elimination

Zack Wheeler delivered a gem on the mound to lead the Phillies to a 5-1 victory over the Brewers, preventing Milwaukee from clinching a playoff berth on Tuesday night in Philadelphia. Wheeler was dominant, allowing just one run on three hits over seven innings while striking out 10 batters. The Phillies offense provided him with plenty of support, scoring five runs on eight hits, including a two-run homer by Kyle Schwarber in the first inning. The Phillies have now won three straight games to force a Game 5 in the series, which will be played in Philadelphia on Wednesday night. The Brewers, who need to win one more game to advance to the NLDS, will send Corbin Burnes to the mound against the Phillies' Ranger Suarez.

Wheeler Deals for Phillies

Wheeler was in complete control from the start, retiring the first nine batters he faced. He allowed just one baserunner over the first four innings, and that came on a walk in the second inning.

The Brewers finally got to Wheeler in the fifth inning when Willy Adames led off with a double and scored on a groundout by Hunter Renfroe. But Wheeler settled down and retired the next three batters to end the inning.

Wheeler continued to cruise through the sixth and seventh innings, striking out the side in the seventh. He finished his outing with 10 strikeouts, tying his season high.

Phillies Offense Provides Support

The Phillies offense gave Wheeler plenty of support, scoring five runs on eight hits. Schwarber's two-run homer in the first inning gave the Phillies an early lead, and they added three more runs in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Brandon Marsh, an RBI single by Bryce Harper, and a run-scoring double by Nick Castellanos. The Phillies added another run in the eighth inning on a solo homer by J.T. Realmuto.

Brewers' Playoff Hopes on Hold

The Brewers' playoff hopes are now on hold after their loss to the Phillies. They will need to win Game 5 on Wednesday night to advance to the NLDS. The Brewers have a strong track record in elimination games, having won their last four such games. But they will face a tough challenge against the Phillies, who are playing with confidence after winning three straight games. The Phillies will send Suarez to the mound in Game 5. Suarez has been solid in the playoffs this year, allowing just two runs in 10 innings pitched.

The Brewers will need to get to Suarez early and often if they want to clinch a playoff berth. But the Phillies are playing with confidence, and they will be looking to force a Game 6 in Milwaukee.