Wheeler Shuts Down Braves, Takes Postgame Swipe at Ronald Acuña Jr.
Zack Wheeler struck out nine, silenced Ronald Acuña Jr., and threw postgame shade as the Phillies cut Atlanta’s NL East lead to four games.
PHILADELPHIA — Zack Wheeler wanted payback. He got it with a 96.6 mph fastball on the outside corner.
The high-stakes drama unfolded Saturday night at a packed Citizens Bank Park. The Philadelphia Phillies kept their National League East division hopes alive, grinding out a gritty 4-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves. It was a classic September battle of wills.
The win pulled the Phillies within four games of the division lead. It also put Wheeler’s competitive fire back on center stage.
The Stare Down in South Philly
The night boiled down to one plate appearance in the fifth inning. Atlanta superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. stepped into the batter’s box with the crowd of 43,000 screaming on every pitch.
Acuña had already embarrassed Wheeler earlier in the game. In the third inning, the former NL MVP launched a massive 450-foot home run into the stands.
“It gives you a little more motivation,” Wheeler admitted later in the locker room. “I really wanted to strike him out right there and kind of get him back, so to speak.”
Acuña’s home run trot had rubbed the Phillies the wrong way. He lingered at home plate. He took a leisurely 29.5-second stroll around the bases while Philadelphia fans rained down boos.
Wheeler didn’t forget. In their next matchup, the veteran right-hander fell into a battle. Acuña fouled off tough pitches to keep the count full.
Then came pitch number eight. Wheeler threw a blazing fastball that caught the edge of the strike zone. Acuña swung through empty air.
Shade Thrown in the Clubhouse
Wheeler was quiet during the game. Afterward, his words carried plenty of bite.
When reporters asked about Acuña’s slow home run trot, Wheeler initially took the high road. He said hitters can do what they want after a home run.
Then he delivered the punchline. Wheeler compared Acuña to his own teammate, Kyle Schwarber, who happened to hit his MLB-leading 41st home run just one inning after Acuña’s blast.
“Our guy just rounds the bases — who hits 50 here,” Wheeler remarked, referencing Schwarber’s elite power. “But he can do whatever he wants.”
It was a calculated jab. It highlighted the cultural clash between Atlanta’s flair and Philadelphia’s hard-nosed approach.
The Redemption of Zack Wheeler
The performance was exactly what Philadelphia needed. Wheeler has endured a brutal late-summer stretch.
Over a six-game span before late August, the Phillies ace posted a terrible 8.51 ERA. Fans on Wall Street sportsbooks began to worry if his arm was giving out.
Saturday proved those worries were premature. Wheeler generated 19 swings-and-misses, his highest total since July.
He got 10 of those empty swings with his four-seam fastball. He got another seven with a nasty splitter that had Atlanta hitters guessing all night.
“After that, it was pretty spectacular, lights out,” Schwarber said of Wheeler’s night. “That’s the Wheeler that we all know.”
His night started with immediate trouble. Wheeler loaded the bases with nobody out in the very first inning, threatening to derail the game before it began.
He escaped without giving up a single run. He relied on his defense and sheer determination to wiggle out of the jam.
The Playoff Picture Tightens
With the victory, the Phillies improved their record to 80-62. They remain in the thick of the National League playoff race.
While they trail the Braves by four games in the division, they are also chasing wildcard position. They sit just a half-game behind the Chicago Cubs for the top Wild Card spot, though Chicago holds the tiebreaker.
“We’re close to them, and every game matters,” Wheeler said. “We know where we’re at.”
The final weeks of the season promise more high-intensity baseball. If Saturday was any indication, the rivalry between Philadelphia and Atlanta is just getting started.
