Wheeler Fans Seven Straight as Phillies Beat Brewers 6-4

Zack Wheeler struck out the first seven Milwaukee batters and reached 2,000 career strikeouts in a win that moved Philadelphia to the brink of a playoff spot.

Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler retired the first seven Milwaukee Brewers hitters on strikes in a 6-4 win on Sept. 22, falling two short of the major-league record of nine consecutive strikeouts to open a game, set by Pablo Lopez of the Miami Marlins in 2021.

Wheeler's third strikeout of the night was the 2,000th of his career. He carried a perfect game through three innings and had 10 strikeouts through five before leaving after 5 2/3 innings and 101 pitches with the Phillies ahead 3-1. Milwaukee erased that lead before Philadelphia pulled away late.

Brandon Marsh hit a two-run homer in the second inning, his third since July 1, and Alec Bohm added an RBI double in the third. In the eighth, RBI singles from Luis Arraez, Bohm and Bryson Stott, plus a run scored on an errant throw by Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell and a Marsh double, put the Phillies up by four.

Relievers Tim Mayza, Alex McFarlane, Jose Alvarado and closer Jhoan Duran covered the final innings, with Duran finishing with a three-run cushion. The Brewers came in at 98-58, the best record in baseball.

The win gave Philadelphia a four-game lead over Arizona with six games remaining and moved the team within one win of a fifth consecutive postseason appearance, which would tie the franchise record set from 2007-11. The Phillies can clinch as early as Sept. 23. Manager Don Mattingly said Jesus Luzardo has thrown two straight days without shoulder inflammation and could be a postseason option.