Wheeler's 2,000th K Highlights Phillies Win Over Brewers
The short version
- Zack Wheeler recorded his 2,000th career strikeout in the first inning Tuesday against Milwaukee.
- He struck out the first seven Brewers he faced, a Phillies record to open a game.
- Philadelphia beat Milwaukee 6-4; the Brewers entered with 98 wins.
- The Phillies can clinch an NL wild-card spot Wednesday with a win and an Arizona loss.
- Wheeler and Aaron Nola are the second teammate duo to reach 2,000 strikeouts in the same season.
The right-hander set a franchise record with seven straight strikeouts to open the game as Philadelphia edged Milwaukee 6-4 on Tuesday.
Philadelphia ace Zack Wheeler entered Tuesday three strikeouts shy of 2,000 for his career and reached the mark during the first inning against Milwaukee. The milestone came on a strikeout of Brice Turang, and Wheeler kept piling on from there.
He retired the first seven Brewers he faced by strikeout, breaking the previous club record of six consecutive strikeouts to begin a game. According to MLB, Wheeler is just the 96th pitcher in major league history to record 2,000 career punchouts.
The Phillies went on to beat Milwaukee 6-4, handing a loss to a Brewers team that came into the contest with 98 wins. The victory pulled Philadelphia closer to locking up a National League wild-card spot.
Per MLB's scenario, the Phillies could clinch a playoff berth as early as Wednesday with another win over the Brewers combined with an Arizona loss at Colorado.
Wheeler is the second Phillies pitcher to hit the 2,000-strikeout mark this season, joining teammate Aaron Nola. MLB reported the two are only the second pair of teammates in history to reach the milestone in the same season.
