Phillies beat Rangers 5-2 for 3-game sweep

phillies beat rangers 5-2 for 3-game sweep

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

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 how about this: 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 García’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.”

José Alvarado worked a scoreless eighth and Jeff Hoffman pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

“They swing the bats, they're one of the best offensive teams in baseball,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “We caught a hot team.”

Must like a night earlier when the Phillies rallied from a 2-0 hole, García’s homer was just an early nuisance.

Realmuto hit an 0-2 pitch off Rangers starter Andrew Heaney (0-6) the other way into the right field seats for a tying shot in the third that stretched his hitting streak to 13 games.

Cristian Pache knocked a two-run triple off the left field wall in the fourth for a 3-1 lead and he scored on Kyle Schwarber’s RBI single.

Castellanos added a solo shot in the seventh, giving the Phillies four or more runs in 13 straight games.

“Hats off to ownership and the front office for believing in the pieces that are already here,” Castellanos said.

The Rangers did get Schwarber on an inning-ending groundout in the second and Alec Bohm — who entered Thursday leading the majors in doubles and RBIs — slammed his helmet after he closed the fourth by hitting into a double play with the bases loaded.

The Phillies have yet to win a series against a team that entered Thursday above .500 and they sure knocked the Rangers (24-27) down a few pegs with the sweep. Texas has lost four straight and 12 of 19.

TRAINER'S ROOM

RHP Jon Gray (right groin strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list. Gray took the loss in the series opener.

UP NEXT

The Rangers did not name a starter for Friday's opener of a three-game series at Minnesota. RHP Bailey Ober (4-2, 4.40 ERA) get the start for the Twins.

The Phillies send LHP Cristopher Sánchez (2-3, 3.31 ERA) to the mound against Rockies LHP Ty Blach (1-2, 5.14 ERA) in the opener Friday of a three-game series at Colorado.

OTHER NEWS

20 minutes ago

China rover returns historic samples from far side of the moon — and they may contain secrets to Earth's deep past

20 minutes ago

2024 Volkswagen Golf R brings power boost and new tech

20 minutes ago

Julian Assange Pleads Guilty to Espionage, Securing His Freedom

20 minutes ago

Estimated declaration times of General Election results: Alphabetical list

20 minutes ago

Farage called out over comments

20 minutes ago

£1.4bn worth of PPE from single firm was destroyed or written off

20 minutes ago

Lol: Woman drank alcohol from her handbag at fancy restaurant, Mzansi laughs

20 minutes ago

Woman Not 'Satisfied' With Carpet Job—Then Cleaner Shared the Before Photo

24 minutes ago

Jacksonville approves $1.4B renovation of Jaguars stadium

24 minutes ago

Guatemala appeals court revokes judge's order to give house arrest to renowned journalist José Rubén Zamora

24 minutes ago

Suspected Yemen Houthi attack targets vessel in waters farther away than many previous assaults

24 minutes ago

Guatemalan appeals court revokes order to grant house arrest to journalist José Rubén Zamora

25 minutes ago

Valley View tornado survivor continues to heal after suffering broken ribs, a punctured lung and blood clot

25 minutes ago

Canada beats Peru 1-0 for first ever Copa America win

25 minutes ago

Woman found shot to death in Illinois farm field finally identified after nearly 50 years

25 minutes ago

Kenya Moore Breaks Her Silence After ‘RHOA’ Season 16 Exit

25 minutes ago

A skydiving accident left him a double amputee. Now he’s a snowboarding champion

28 minutes ago

Video: Michael Phelps says false doping accusations eroded 'a lifetime of mental health growth' - and now regulators turning a blind eye to accusations of China doing just that

28 minutes ago

Video: Nigel Farage makes thinly veiled swipe after being booed by crowd as he wins best news presenter at the TRIC Awards

29 minutes ago

Newly sworn-in ANC MP Zizi Kodwa: State’s case against me is ‘nonexistent’

29 minutes ago

John 5 Responds to Accusations of Guitar Miming With Motley Crue

29 minutes ago

Despite political uncertainty, Cape Town's office rental market thrives

29 minutes ago

Labor’s renewables-only approach ‘can’t’ stabilise Australia’s energy grid

29 minutes ago

Medihelp reports strong growth, more younger members join

29 minutes ago

Never (really) too young to have a will

29 minutes ago

Exciting call for nominations for the 2024 AWIEF Awards

29 minutes ago

Blockchain vs Crypto

29 minutes ago

Texas A&M beats Florida 6-0 to make CWS finals for 1st time as Gators shut out 1st time in 2 years

29 minutes ago

Generative AI sent to the dock in RIAA ‘BBL Drizzy’ legal action

29 minutes ago

The Matric mandate: a barrier to employment for South African youth

29 minutes ago

One of 2024's biggest new anime series will be shown in cinemas – one month before its Netflix and Crunchyroll release

29 minutes ago

Money Show host Bruce Whitfield to leave Primedia

29 minutes ago

Great Wolf Lodge water park in Webster will open earlier than expected, according to website

29 minutes ago

Employers' role in health and wellness to promote employee well-being, by Medshield

29 minutes ago

How environmental toxins and pollution affect our health, by Medshield

29 minutes ago

LA broadcast TV legend Tom Van Amburg — who gave Regis Philbin his daytime start — dead at 83

29 minutes ago

Video: Shocking moment thugs armed with Rambo knives fight in the middle of the day on residential London street

29 minutes ago

Everything you need to know about changes coming July 1

29 minutes ago

Coalition slams Prime Minister for not expelling rogue Labor Senator Fatima Payman

29 minutes ago

Former Fremantle Dockers and Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale and wife Julie Neale announce baby news