The Phillies needed to win this game. They had fallen to 4 1⁄2 games behind the Braves thanks to their impressive ability to not be able to beat bad teams. It’s been a bugaboo for them for a few years now, but with their best shot at the playoffs in a few years happening right now, they are losing chances to make up ground on Atlanta.
Tonight, it began with three scoreless innings from each side. Zack Wheeler, the Phillies ace, matched up with Kyle Freeland to keep the offenses at bay.