Zack Wheeler stifles Braves to help Phillies level series

Field Level Media|published: Sat 5th September, 20:54 2026 Sep 5, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Zack Wheeler worked six strong innings and Kyle Schwarber hit his major league-leading 41st homer as the Philadelphia Phillies topped the visiting Atlanta Braves 4-2 on Saturday.

Schwarber had two hits for Philadelphia, as did Bryce Harper, Derek Hill and Luis Arraez. Wheeler (12-5) struck out nine while allowing one run and three hits.

The Phillies (80-62) evened the four-game series at one win apiece and moved within four games of the first-place Braves (84-58) in the National League East.

Atlanta, which had won nine of its last 11, managed only five hits, including solo homers from Ronald Acuna Jr. and Austin Riley.

Braves starter Martin Perez (8-9) gave up four runs, seven hits and four walks in 3 2/3 innings.

The first three batters of the game reached against Wheeler, who escaped the jam by retiring the next three hitters.

Philadelphia also put together a quick rally in its half of the first. After issuing back-to-back walks to open the frame, Perez retired Harper for the first out before Arraez’s single made it 1-0.

Perez then walked two of the next three hitters to force in another run.

The veteran left-hander got out of the inning without further damage, but he ran into immediate trouble in the second. Hill led off with a triple and came home on Schwarber’s groundout.

Acuna’s third-inning homer brought Atlanta within 3-1. However, Schwarber got that run back in the fourth with a long solo shot off Perez.

Wheeler struck out the side in the fifth and then retired the Braves in order in the sixth.

Riley cranked his 16th homer of the year against Jonathan Bowlan in the seventh to bring Atlanta within 4-2.

Jose Alvarado took over for Philadelphia in the eighth and yielded a leadoff single to Drake Baldwin before getting a double play off the bat of Acuna. The southpaw then struck out Matt Olson to end the inning.

Jhoan Duran had no issues in the ninth en route to his 30th save.

–Field Level Media

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