Phillies give Zack Wheeler just enough support, edge Mets, interim manager

Field Level Media|published: Fri 26th June, 21:51 2026

Jun 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) pitches against the New York Mets during the third inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Zack Wheeler tossed seven strong innings on Friday night for the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, who edged the struggling New York Mets 2-1 in the opener of a three-game series between the National League East rivals.

Trea Turner recorded the tie-breaking RBI single in the seventh inning for the Phillies, who have won four straight and six of seven. Bryce Harper had three singles, including a run-scoring hit in the first.

Jared Young tied the score in the fourth with an RBI single for the Mets, who lost their seventh straight game hours after firing manager Carlos Mendoza and replacing him on an interim basis with Andy Green, the club's farm director.

Wheeler (8-1) allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out five over seven innings. He has surrendered one run or fewer seven times in 12 starts this season.

Orion Kerkering threw a perfect eighth before Jhoan Duran worked around a two-out single in the ninth to close out his 20th save.

Huascar Brazoban (4-2) took the loss after giving up the run and two hits in the seventh.

Mets rookie left-hander Zach Thornton settled down after a rocky first inning to toss six innings of one-run ball. The southpaw gave up five hits and walked one while striking out seven.

The Phillies opened the game with three straight hits off Thornton. Turner doubled off the left field wall on Thornton's first pitch, moved to third on Kyle Schwarber's single and scored on Harper's single.

Phillies center fielder Derek Hill preserved the lead in the bottom half, when Carson Benge led off with a single before Hill reached over the wall to take away a two-run homer from Juan Soto.

The Mets tied the game in the fourth, when Bo Bichette opened the inning with a double, advanced to third on Francisco Lindor's groundout and scored on Young's single.

The Phillies went ahead against Brazoban in the seventh. Hill greeted the right-hander with a single and Bryson Stott worked a one-out walk before Hill raced home on Turner's single to left.

--Field Level Media

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