Harper and Wheeler lead Phillies to 5-1 victory over Brewers

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Bryce Harper hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth inning to back up the strong pitching of Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 on Tuesday night in a matchup of division leaders.

Nick Castellanos added a solo shot and Trea Turner went 3 for 5 to help the Phillies move closer to wrapping up the NL East title while delaying the Brewers’ NL Central championship celebration.

The Brewers’ magic number dropped to one with the Chicago Cubs’ 4-3 loss to the Oakland Athletics. The Phillies lowered their magic number for clinching the NL East to four, though their magic number merely to reach the postseason is down to one.

Philadelphia's victory Tuesday gave the Phillies (91-60) the tiebreaker advantage over the Brewers (87-64) as they jockey for potential playoff seeding.

“We needed a win here for sure,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “We'll try and win the series tomorrow, but just getting the tiebreaker over these guys I think is going to be huge coming down the stretch.”

Wheeler (16-6) allowed only four hits and one run in seven innings while striking out six and walking none. Wheeler, who lowered his ERA to 2.56, has worked at least six innings while giving up no more than two runs in each of his last nine starts.

“I just try to go six or seven every time, at least that,” Wheeler said. “If I go more, that's awesome. Try to do that, save our bullpen. It adds up over the season, where they get those innings saved in the bullpen. We need them for this stretch right now.”

Wheeler's 16 wins rank him second in the NL to Atlanta's Chris Sale, Wheeler's main competition for the Cy Young Award.

“He's the Cy Young, man," Harper said. “I said it out there. I don't think anyone in baseball is better than him at this point. I don't think anybody in the National League is, either. People down in Atlanta probably think the same thing about the guy throwing down there. I thought he got robbed of it three years ago (when Wheeler finished second to Corbin Burnes). I believe he earned it this year.”

The score was tied at 1-all until Harper sent a 1-1 pitch from Frankie Montas over the wall in left-center for his 29th homer of the season. Harper’s two-run shot also scored Kyle Schwarber, who led off with an infield single.

Montas (7-11) struck out 10 batters in 5 2/3 innings while allowing three runs, six hits and two walks.

Philadelphia extended the lead to 4-1 in the seventh as Schwarber hit a ball that went off a leg of pitcher Aaron Ashby and headed into shallow right field for an RBI single after Edmundo Sosa's leadoff double.

Turner added a two-out RBI single in the ninth.

“They’ve got two of the best power hitters in the game and a couple of other guys who are among the top hitters in the game, so you can’t give them anything," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. "You have to keep the pressure on, and we couldn’t do that.”

Castellanos led off the second inning with a 430-foot drive over the wall in left-center for his 21st homer of the season. The Phillies put runners on first and second later in the second before Montas struck out Cal Stevenson to end the inning.

The Brewers tied it in the fourth, as William Contreras singled and scored on Garrett Mitchell’s triple to right center, but the Brewers stranded Mitchell at third.

TRAINER'S ROOM

The Phillies reinstated Sosa from the 10-day injured list and optioned IF Buddy Kennedy to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. In another move, the Phillies sent C Aramis Garcia outright to Lehigh Valley after he cleared waivers. Garcia had been designated for assigment Sunday.

Manager Rob Thomson said OF Austin Hays ran at full intensity Tuesday for the first time since going on the injured list with a kidney infection on Sept. 5. Thomson said the infection has gone away.

UP NEXT

RHP Aaron Nola (12-8, 3.62 ERA) pitches for the Phillies and RHP Freddy Peralta (11-8, 3.75) starts for the Brewers when this three-game series concludes Wednesday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper is congratulated by Nick Castellanos after hitting a two-run homr run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras hits a single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber hits an RBI single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm throws during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Garrett Mitchell reacts after hitting an RBI triple during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Garrett Mitchell hits an RBI triple during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio hits a single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper reacts after hitting a two-run homr run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper hits a two-run homr run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Sam Surridge scored a goal in the 19th minute, Joe Willis had three saves the Nashville SC beat the Chicago Fire 1-0 Wednesday night.

Surridge played a header, off an arcing entry from Hany Mukhtar, that went high above the crossbar before dropping inside the post to give Nashville a 1-0 lead.

Nashville (8-13-8) has won back-to-back games following an eight-game losing streak.

The Fire had 58% possession and outshot Nashville 10-5.

Chicago (7-15-8), which beat the New York Red Bulls 2-1 last time out, has lost four of its last six games.

AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer

Nashville SC goalkeeper Joe Willis defends the goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville SC forward Teal Bunbury, left, and Chicago Fire defender Ariel Lassiter, right, battle for the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville SC goalkeeper Joe Willis, front, punches the ball away from Chicago Fire forward Tom Barlow, right, during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Chicago Fire forward Tom Barlow, center, heads the ball past Nashville SC defender Daniel Lovitz, left, and Nashville SC defender Jack Maher, right, during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville SC forward Sam Surridge, right, gathers the ball in front of Chicago Fire defender Tobias Salquist, left, during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville SC forward Sam Surridge (9) celebrates a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville SC midfielder Anibal Godoy (20) grabs Chicago Fire midfielder Maren Haile-Selassie, left, as they chase the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Chicago Fire midfielder Maren Haile-Selassie, right, blocks a kick by Nashville SC defender Daniel Lovitz, left, during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Chicago Fire midfielder Fabian Herbers, right, kicks the ball past Nashville SC defender Jack Maher, left, during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville SC forward Sam Surridge (9) celebrates a goal with defender Daniel Lovitz, left, and forward Teal Bunbury (12) during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Chicago Fire, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)