Orioles hit 4 HRs off Wheeler, beat the Phillies 8-3 to take 2 of 3 in the series
Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson (2) celebrates his home run in front of Philadelphia Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs, right, during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Baltimore. Home plate umpire Mike Estabrook looks on at left. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
BALTIMORE (AP) — Gunnar Henderson hit his eighth leadoff homer of the season, and three more Orioles also went deep off Zack Wheeler to help Baltimore beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-3 on Sunday.
Baltimore Orioles' Jordan Westburg, second from left, celebrates his three-run home run with Anthony Santander (25) during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
The pitching matchup between Wheeler (8-4) and Corbin Burnes (8-2) didn't live up to expectations, but it was still an eventful series finale before a third straight sellout crowd at Camden Yards. Phillies manager Rob Thomson was ejected in the top of the sixth, and soon after that, play paused for a few seconds on multiple occasions because of loud plane flyovers related to Baltimore's Fleet Week celebration.
Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson, back, argues with home plate umpire Mike Estabrook, front, after he was ejected from the baseball game in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Baltimore. Third base umpire Laz Diaz watches at right. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
The Orioles pulled within two games of the AL East-leading New York Yankees, who played at Boston later Sunday. The Yankees host a three-game series with Baltimore starting Tuesday night.
Wheeler had never allowed more than three homers in a game, but the Orioles hit one in four of his five innings on the mound. In the bottom of the first, Henderson broke a tie with Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber — who went deep to start Friday night's game — for the major league lead in leadoff homers. Then Colton Cowser hit a 443-foot shot with a man on in the second to make it 3-0.
Adley Rutschman added a solo homer in the third, and after the Phillies scored twice in the fifth to make it 4-2, Jordan Westburg's three-run shot capped a four-run rally for Baltimore in the bottom of the inning.
Two errors by Baltimore's infield allowed the Phillies to load the bases with two outs in the ninth, but Yennier Cano came on and struck out Edmundo Sosa for his third save.
Baltimore Orioles' Colton Cowser celebrates his two-run home run as he rounds the bases during the second inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Wheeler lasted just 4 1/3 innings and matched a career high with eight earned runs allowed. He hadn't permitted that many since 2018.
Burnes, who edged Wheeler in a tight race for the 2021 National League Cy Young Award, faced plenty of traffic but made it through six innings for his 10th consecutive quality start. That's the longest active streak in the majors.
Philadelphia’s Garrett Stubbs squared to bunt in the sixth, and when Burnes’ pitch bounced near the batter’s foot, Stubbs went to first. Umpires conferred and had Stubbs come back to continue his plate appearance. Thomson was then ejected during an animated argument with plate umpire Mike Estabrook.
Baltimore Orioles' Colton Cowser, left, drinks from the "homer hydration station" as he celebrates his two-run home run with Jordan Westburg, right, during the second inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
The ballpark had a good view of Fleet Week air shows all weekend, but there was a brief period when the planes were particularly loud and players on the field stopped for a few seconds at a time.
Trainer's Room
Phillies: Thomson said before the game Philadelphia expects to have star SS Trea Turner back Monday from a hamstring injury.
Orioles: RHP Dean Kremer (triceps) pitched 3 2/3 innings in a rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Norfolk.
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Up Next
Phillies: Philadelphia's Christopher Sánchez (3-3) starts at home Monday night against San Diego's Randy Vásquez (1-3).
Orioles: Burnes' start Sunday means the Yankees don't have to face him in this next series. Albert Suárez (3-0) takes the mound for Baltimore against Nestor Cortes (3-5) on Tuesday night.
Phillies Orioles Baseball
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