Zack Wheeler takes no-hitter into eighth inning and Phils pound out 9-5 win over Chicago White Sox

Rob Thomson said ahead of Saturday’s game against the Chicago White Sox that when the Phillies’ starting rotation is having the success it is at the moment, the pitchers want to “outdo each other.”

Spencer Turnbull had taken a no-hitter into the seventh inning on Friday. So, naturally, Zack Wheeler outdid that by taking a no-hit bid into the eighth inning Saturday evening, in what was ultimately an 9-5 win over the White Sox at Citizens Bank Park. Wheeler had retired 22 Chicago batters without allowing a hit before Korey Lee sent a single down the first-base line, past a diving Bryce Harper.

“We try to one-up each other, and that’s what makes us good,” Wheeler said. “Trying to get to beat the guy the day before.”

Wheeler finished his night after 7⅓ innings with eight strikeouts, two walks, and one hit batsman. He had a bit of help from his fielders to keep his bid alive, namely Johan Rojas tracking down a well-hit line drive to center field in the seventh.

Thomson said he told Wheeler after the seventh inning that he had maximum of 120 pitches. Lee’s hit came on Wheeler’s 106th of the night, and Seranthony Domínguez came in to relieve him.

“It’s a long season,” Wheeler said. “I always say that when this type of stuff happens, and you want to be good for the long run. No-hitters are cool, but you have to be safe with them, too.”

The Phillies, who four days ago ranked last in the National League in runs scored, racked up 12 hits to give Wheeler plenty of run support. Trea Turner, who has hit safely in all nine games of the current homestand, continued his hot streak with a single and a two-run double. Rojas went 3-for-4 and scored two runs.

“Different guys are contributing in each and every way,” Turner said. “So just kind of the total effort by everyone I think is really cool. And then when you’re doing all that, the record kind of reflects that. So it’s been a good start, but a long season.”

Entering Saturday, Wheeler had been the only Phillies starter yet to record a win this season, but he ended his drought in style. Nicky Lopez worked Wheeler for a 10-pitch walk to start the game, but from there, Wheeler retired 13 straight batters.

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The White Sox made things interesting in the ninth inning, as the Phillies bullpen came close to taking Wheeler’s win away from him. Chicago strung together two walks and five hits — including back-to-back doubles — off Ricardo Pinto to plate five runs in the ninth. Pinto then hit Andrew Vaughn to load the bases and bring the tying run to the plate, before José Alvarado came in and induced a groundout to shut the door.

“You don’t think with a nine-run lead going into the ninth, you’re going to call one of your leverage guys [in Alvarado], but he got it done, and a win is a win,” Thomson said.

Wheeler was not the only Phillies player to end a drought on Saturday. After starting his season with 78 straight plate appearances without an extra-base hit, Nick Castellanos got the monkey off his back with triple to right field in the second inning.

“Usually when I see guys start and they’re struggling a little bit, and they start lofting balls ... then usually I think it’s coming,” Thomson said. “And he’s been doing that lately, and sort of staying inside the ball and hitting fly balls to right. Because that’s his power. I mean, right-center is his game, and so it was really good to see him break out a little bit tonight.”

Just a few feet away from being a home run, the ball bounced off the outfield wall and eluded Chicago right fielder Gavin Sheets long enough for Castellanos to stretch it to three bases. He was driven home by Rojas to cap a three-run inning.

“I think that adds a huge advantage for us,” Turner said. “Pitcher never gets a chance to let up and breathe. [The bottom of the order] got us going tonight, they ended up scoring those early runs for us.”

While Castellanos’ walk-off single less than a week ago against the Pirates had been a bright spot amid his early-season struggles, that first extra-base hit had continued to escape him. Saturday ended a streak that had been the longest of his career. Previously, he’d gone 63 plate appearances without an extra-base hit in 2015 with Detroit.

But Thomson maintained confidence in Castellanos, and he never left the starting lineup. Some solid contact on Friday in the series opener against the White Sox signaled that Saturday’s outburst was just around the corner.

Castellanos followed it up with a single to right field in the fourth inning, and a two-run single up the middle in the fifth.

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