Bryce Harper hit a game-winning two-run homer in the sixth inning, backing up strong pitching from Zack Wheeler as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 in a battle of division leaders on Tuesday night.
Nick Castellanos contributed a solo shot and Trea Turner hit 3-of-5 to help the Phillies move closer to the NL East title while the Brewers’ NL Central championship celebration was postponed.
The Phillies have lowered their magic number to win the NL East to four. The Brewers’ magic number dropped to one after the Chicago Cubs lost 4-3 to the Oakland Athletics.
Wheeler (16-6) increased his Cy Young Award eligibility by allowing just four hits and one run in seven innings, making six strikeouts and allowing no walks. Wheeler, who lowered his ERA to 2.56, has allowed no more than two runs in each of his last nine starts.
The score was tied 1-1 until Harper sent a 1-1 pitch from Frankie Montas over the left-center field wall for his 29th home run of the season. Harper’s two-run shot also brought home Kyle Schwarber, who led off with an infield single.
Montas (7-11) struck out 10 batters in 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs, six hits and two walks.
Philadelphia extended the lead to 4-1 in the seventh inning when Schwarber hit a ball that bounced off pitcher Aaron Ashby’s leg and flew into shallow right field for an RBI single after Edmundo Sosa’s leadoff double.
Turner hit an RBI single against Enoli Paredes with two outs in the ninth inning.
Castellanos opened the second inning with a 430-footer over the left-center field wall for his 21st home run of the season. The Phillies got runners on first and second base later in the second inning before Montas struck out Cal Stevenson, ending the inning.
The Brewers tied the game in the fourth inning when William Contreras singled and scored on Garrett Mitchell’s triple to right center, but the Brewers left Mitchell at third base.
TRAINING ROOM
The Phillies activated Sosa from the 10-day injured list and sent IF Buddy Kennedy to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. In another move, the Phillies sent C Aramis Garcia directly to Lehigh Valley after he came off the waivers list. Garcia was scheduled to play on Sunday.
Manager Rob Thomson said fullback Austin Hays ran at full intensity for the first time Tuesday since going on the injured list with a kidney infection on Sept. 5. Thomson said the infection has cleared up.
Next
RHP Aaron Nola (12-8, 3.62 ERA) will pitch for the Phillies and RHP Freddy Peralta (11-8, 3.75) will start for the Brewers when this three-game series ends Wednesday night.
