PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler touched 99 mph as he threw all 11 of his pitches for strikes in the first inning Saturday, the Philadelphia Phillies' ace offering a tantalizing peek at his dominant playoff outing ahead.
Wheeler kept wheeling and dealing from there in the NL Division Series opener and stuck it to his old team, the New York Mets — nine strikeouts and a whopping 30 swings-and-misses over 111 pitches in seven shutout innings.
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New York Mets' Pete Alonso follows the flight of the ball after hitting a run scoring sacrifice fly off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm during the eighth inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Phillies' Zack Wheeler pitches during the fifth inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the New York Mets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler reacts after New York Mets' Jose Iglesias hit into a double play during the fourth inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler checks the runner at first during the seventh inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the New York Mets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Phillies second base Bryson Stott catches a fly out hit by New York Mets' Jose Iglesias during the seventh inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler acknowledges fans after the seventh inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the New York Mets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm walks to the dugout after being released during the eighth inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the New York Mets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm is released during the eighth inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the New York Mets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Phillies first base Bryce Harper rests during a pitching change during the eighth inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the New York Mets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper, second right, looks on from the dugout with teammates during the ninth inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the New York Mets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
It was a bit of pitching mastery for the two-time All-Star.
“You can’t make mistakes in the playoffs,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler sure didn't make many, lifted after he held the Mets to just one hit with Philadelphia clinging to a 1-0 lead.
But once he left, the wheels fell off for the Phillies.
Maybe it was the five-day layoff for the NL East champions, a spell of down time that also doomed a pair of 100-win Braves teams each of the last two seasons dumped by the Phillies in the Division Series.
Maybe the Mets are just riding the kind of late-season wave the Phillies enjoyed each of the last two years on their way to deep playoff runs.
Whatever the cause, the Phillies failed to solve Kodai Senga or the four Mets relievers who followed him, as they quieted the heart of Philadelphia's batting order. All-Star relievers Jeff Hoffman and Matt Strahm folded in the eighth inning — five runs allowed after three straight batters reached following 0-2 counts — and let the Mets escape Saturday with a 6-2 win in Game 1.
“It was stunning, it was, to see Hoffy and Strahmy give it up like that,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “But that’s baseball sometimes. They haven’t done that since we’ve had them, really.”
Thomson also gave props to Wheeler, though.
The right-hander, who left the Mets in free agency following the 2019 season, forced 14 swings-and-misses over the first three innings and deftly escaped his only jam in the fourth when he got Jose Iglesias to ground into an inning-ending double play.
“He was pretty nasty,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “When you’re throwing 98 (mph) and locating the way he was locating, up at the top of the zone, you know, in and out, and then the sweeper, the split. I mean, unbelievable. He was pretty much unhittable today. And that’s who he is.”
Kyle Schwarber backed Wheeler with a leadoff homer, a Schwarbomb that lived up to its name when he socked Senga's third pitch into the second deck.
Schwarber, who hit 38 home runs in the regular season, including a record 15 leadoff homers, sent Phillies fans into a frenzy right away. Schwarber has 21 career playoff home runs in 66 games. That ranks fourth behind Manny Ramirez (29), Jose Altuve (27) and Bernie Williams (22).
Jimmy Rollins and Derek Jeter both had three career leadoff home runs during the playoffs.
From there, it was a dizzying repeat of the Phillies' anemic offensive collapse at home in Games 6 and 7 of the NL Championship Series last season against Arizona. Schwarber added a bloop single in the third inning but none of the next 19 Phillies got a hit.
All-Stars Trea Turner and Alec Bohm were each hitless in four at-bats. Bryce Harper walked twice and doubled, while Nick Castellanos was 1 for 4 with two strikeouts.
“As an offense, we wasted that start,” Harper said. “It's the same thing, man. Chasing balls in the dirt. Didn't work deep in the counts like we should have. We've got to understand what they're going to try to do to us and flip the switch as an offense.”
Philadelphia lost a Game 1 of any postseason series for the first time since the 2010 NLCS.
The Phillies won a Wild Card Series each of the last two seasons before they twice knocked out 100-win Atlanta teams in the NLDS. The Braves blamed a layoff as the root cause of their early exits, so the Phillies kept busy to avoid getting stale over five off days. The Phillies held an intrasquad scrimmage, took batting practice, had infield drills and pitchers' fielding drills as they tried to keep a routine as close to normal as it gets during the regular season.
Thomson didn't think the cold bats and ragged effort from the bullpen could be blamed on rust.
“I don’t think so. They pitched on Wednesday, and they threw the ball fairly well,” Thomson said. “I’d have to look at the tape. It’s probably about execution, and leaving some pitches in the middle of the zone.”
The Phillies have All-Star and new dad Cristopher Sánchez on the mound for Game 2.
“You can't harp on this one,” Harper said. “You've got to flush it, come back tomorrow. Sanchy on the bump, looking forward to that.”
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New York Mets' Pete Alonso follows the flight of the ball after hitting a run scoring sacrifice fly off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm during the eighth inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Phillies' Zack Wheeler pitches during the fifth inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the New York Mets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler reacts after New York Mets' Jose Iglesias hit into a double play during the fourth inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler checks the runner at first during the seventh inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the New York Mets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Phillies second base Bryson Stott catches a fly out hit by New York Mets' Jose Iglesias during the seventh inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler acknowledges fans after the seventh inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the New York Mets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm walks to the dugout after being released during the eighth inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the New York Mets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm is released during the eighth inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the New York Mets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Phillies first base Bryce Harper rests during a pitching change during the eighth inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the New York Mets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper, second right, looks on from the dugout with teammates during the ninth inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the New York Mets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
MIAMI (AP) — A new tropical storm was expected to form Monday in the Caribbean and will bring heavy rain to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands before strengthening to a hurricane and likely hitting Cuba, forecasters said.
The storm was expected to be named Rafael. Later in the week it also is expected to bring heavy rainfall to Florida and portions of the U.S. Southeast, according to advisories from the Miami-based U.S. National Hurricane Center.
A tropical storm warning was in effect for Jamaica and a hurricane watch was in effect for the Cayman Islands.
“Potential Tropical Cyclone Eighteen” on Monday morning was located about 220 miles (355 kilometers) south of Kingston, Jamaica. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph) while moving north at 7 mph (11 kph), the center said.
The storm was expected to move near Jamaica by late Monday and be near or over the Cayman Islands late Tuesday into Wednesday. It could be near hurricane strength when it passes near the Cayman Islands.
The most recent forecast shows the storm could pass over western Cuba on Wednesday as a hurricane. People in Cuba and the Florida Keys were among those urged to monitor the storm as it develops.
Heavy rainfall will affect the western Caribbean with totals of 3 to 6 inches (7 to 15 centimeters) and up to 9 inches (23 cm) expected locally in Jamaica and parts of Cuba. Flooding and mudslides are possible.
On the opposite side of the Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Patty was forecast to become a post-tropical cyclone on Monday. The storm was about 490 miles (785 km) east of the Azores, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph). There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
Storm in the Caribbean is on a track to likely hit Cuba as a hurricane
This satellite image provided by NOAA shows weather systems Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (NOAA via AP)
Storm in the Caribbean is on a track to likely hit Cuba as a hurricane