WHEELER DEALS AND PHILS WIN 5-1

BY ROCK HOFFMAN

Zack Wheeler was in control as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Colorado Rockies 5-1 in the second game of the home-opening series at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies' ace struck out 10 batters in seven innings of work; he surrendered the lone run on a homer by Hunter Goodman. Otherwise, he gave up just two additional hits. He didn't walk anyone but did hit a batter.

"It seems like the same thing every night," said Phillies manager Rob Thomson about Wheeler's performance. When asked if Wheeler is taken for granted, Thomson replied, "Not by me and not by his teammates either."

"I was struggling a little bit," said Wheeler, who won for the 60th time as a Phillie, about his fastball command. "Maybe it didn't look that way, but it was. I was just throwing it up there hoping for the best, but off-speed was working [and] J.T. called a good game."

ZACK WHEELER STRIKES OUT 10 ROCKIES IN THE PHILLIES WIN

The Phils doubled their season total of runs scored off opposing starters when they got a pair of runs in the fourth. Alec Bohm singled to lead off the frame. He scored when Kyle Schwarber, who has at least one hit in each game so far this season, hit a bloop double down the left field line. At third base, Schwarber, reading the play perfectly, raced home on a dribbler up the third base line off the bat of J.T. Realmuto. Initially, the Phillies designated hitter held, but as soon as the Rockies catcher Goodman threw to first, he started home and slid under the tag of pitcher Kyle Freeland.

In the fifth, the Phils loaded the bases with no outs on a single by Edmundo Sosa, a bunt by Johan Rojas, and an infield hit by Trea Turner. However, Freeland was able to strike out the team's two, three, and four hitters, Bryce Harper, Bohm, and Schwarber to keep it at 2-0.

In the sixth, Wheeler picked up the offense by retiring the side in order. Goodman's home run came with one out in the seventh, but Wheeler finished off the final two hitters of the inning with strikeouts.

In the Phils' half of the seventh, they played get 'em on, get 'em over, and get 'em in to build the lead back to two runs. Sosa singled, went to second on a passed ball, then third when Rojas bunted him over. He scored from there on a single by Turner.

They loaded the bases again in the eighth, and for the second game in a row, Sosa greeted a new pitcher with a double, and it was 5-1. Sosa, who started at second base, was three-for-four with two RBI and a run scored. He and Schwarber each have four extra-base hits in the first five games.

Rojas was two-for-two with a walk and a stolen base, Thomson said it was the best game of his career.

Expected to be more of a fourth outfielder this season, Rojas said he is learning from Sosa about coming off the bench.

"I always talk to him, "said Rojas, through Phillies' interpreter Diego D'Aniello. "I always ask him how he prepares and what he thinks before every single game."

The Phillies go for the sweep on Thursday afternoon.