Bryce Harper Hits Home Run To Back Zack Wheeler To Beat Reds

  

Bryce Harper homered in his return to the lineup following the birth of his third child, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 Thursday for their second shutout win in splitting a four-game series. The Reds won the season series 4-3.

Wheeler escaped a bases loaded jam in the third on a running catch by Nick Castellanos of Spencer Steer's bid for an extra base hit.

“I was throwing a lot of balls and got deep in the counts,” Wheeler said. “Any time someone is on third with no out, it's good to get out of the inning without them scoring. I've given up two hits my last two outings but a bunch of walks. The results are good. I just got to get that cleaned up.”

Philadelphia has won eight of 10 and leads the major leagues with five shutouts, one more than the Phillies total in all of last season.

“I heard it was the second time that Bryce has homered coming off the paternity list. It's wild isn't it; daddy strength. It is good to have back. He's a good presence and gives the people around him a lot of confidence.”

Harper returned from paternity leave for the birth of a daughter and hit a two-run homer that capped a four-run third inning against Nick Martinez (0-1). Harper has four home runs in four games against the Reds this season, hitting three on April 2.

Bryson Stott hit an RBI triple and scored on Kyle Schwarber's sacrifice fly, then added an RBI single in the sixth. Trea Turner had three hits, raising his average to .336.>Orion Kerkering and Jeff Hoffman finished the three-hitter.

Martinez (0-1) gave up five runs and 11 hits in six innings. He is starting because Frankie Montas is on the 15-day injured list with a bruised right forearm after being struck Saturday by a comebacker off the bat of the Los Angeles Angels' Taylor Ward.

Bryce Harper, who returned to the lineup after the birth of a daughter, capped a four-run  third inning with his fifth home run of the season. The two-run homer was the fourth against  the Reds in his last two games.

Trea Turner had three hits and drove in a run. Bryson start hit a triple an drove in two.

Zach Wheeler turned in his second straight scoreless outing with six innings. He allowed one hit and four walks, striking out eight. Wheeler pitched a season-high 7 1/3 in his last outing against the White Sox.

Nick Martinez, filling in for Frankie Montas, who will miss two starts with a bruised forearm, was the victim. The Phillies had four extra base hits in the inning.

“It was a combination of bad luck and missed location to the wrong guys,” Martinez said. “I liked the pitch call to Harper but I missed the locaton. The same with Turner when e hit the double.”

Harper has five homers on the season. Four have been against the Reds in the last two games.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Phillies: RHP Taijuan Walker, on the injured list since spring training with right shoulder soreness, is expected to make his first start of the season for the Phillies at San Diego on Sunday.

Reds: Jonathan India returned and went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts as a DH after missing three games with an undisclosed illness. ... OF Jake Fraley missed his fourth straight start due to illness.

UP NEXT

Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola (3-1, 3.16) will oppose RHP Joe Musgrove (3-2, .5.74) in San Diego on Friday.

Reds: RHP Graham Ashcraft (3-1, .5.24) will start Friday at Texas against RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-2, 3.30).