Sunday, April 4, 2021

Game 2 - 2020 Topps Living Set #347 Zack Wheeler

Phillies 4
, Braves 0
Game 2 - Saturday Afternoon, April 3rd in Philadelphia
Record - 2-0, 1st Place, 1 game ahead of the Mets and Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Zack Wheeler was masterful, allowing one hit, striking out 10 and driving in a pair of runs in this 4-0 Phillies win.

What It Means:  Wheeler's performance was incredibly impressive, and if not for a Travis d'Arnaud single up the middle in the second he would have been perfect.  He's the first Phillies pitcher to go 7-plus innings with one or less hits, no walks and strike out at least 10 since Roy Halladay threw his perfect game on May 29, 2010.  He's also the first Phillies pitcher to pitch seven-plus innings and get more hits than hits allowed since Terry Mulholland's no-hitter on August 15, 1990.

What Happened:  The Phillies plated three in the fifth.  Wheeler singled home Jean Segura and Roman Quinn, and then Rhys Hoskins doubled to score Wheeler.  In the sixth, Wheeler struck again, doubling home Alec Bohm.  Wheeler departed the game after seven innings, having thrown 90 pitches and yielded to Archie Bradley who threw a perfect eighth.  Hector Neris came on in the ninth and struck out the side to finish the ballgame.

Featured Card:  Of course it's got to be Wheeler, and this is his Living Set card released last September.

Field Report:  My entire family attended this game, making two games in a row for Doug and me.  It wasn't as chilly in Section 319, and we settled into our seats with some nachos and Crab Fries.  Following the offensive outburst in the fifth inning, we ventured out for food, stopping to say hello to Greg Luzinski, back in his regular perch outside Bull's BBQ.  Doug and I enjoyed some Bull's again with my wife Jenna and our youngest son Ben splitting a Seasons pizza.  We stayed the for the entire nine innings, four of the 8,582 socially distanced fans in attendance.

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