Wheeler throws 6 strong innings, Stott homers to help Phillies beat Marlins 6-5

MIAMI (AP) — Zack Wheeler struck out eight over six strong innings of one-run ball, Bryson Stott homered and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Miami Marlins 6-5 on Friday night.

Alec Bohm and Edmundo Sosa each had two hits and drove in a run to help the Phillies improve to 4-0 under interim manager Don Mattingly.

In his second appearance since beginning the season on the injured list, Wheeler (1-0) scattered three hits and walked two. Wheeler underwent surgery in September after a blood clot was discovered in his right shoulder and made his season debut with a five-inning outing against Atlanta on April 26.

Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, who began Friday with an NL-leading 11 homers, struck out five times.

Sosa’s RBI single and Stott’s three-run homer off reliever Cade Gibson in the seventh made it 6-1. Bryce Harper doubled and scored when Sosa hit a line drive to center. Gibson then plunked Brandon Marsh on the right elbow with a 91 mph fastball before Stott connected with a drive over the right-field wall.

The Marlins narrowed the deficit on Otto López’s RBI single, Liam Hicks’ sacrifice fly and Agustín Ramírez’s run-scoring single against relievers Jonathan Bowlan and José Alvarado in the eighth.

Javier Sanoja walked to lead off the ninth against Phillies closer Brad Keller. Jakob Marsee and Kyle Stowers struck out before López narrowed the deficit with an RBI single. Keller retired Xavier Edwards on a flyout to center for his first save.

Stowers protested the called third strike by plate umpire Mark Wegner and was ejected. Wegner also tossed Marlins manager Clayton McCullough after he came out to question the call and Stowers’ ejection.

Bohm hit an RBI single and Justin Crawford followed with a run-scoring double against Marlins starter Eury Pérez in the fourth to put Philadelphia ahead 2-1.

After he scored on Stott’s blast, Marsh was replaced because of an elbow contusion. Marsh had an X-ray and the results were clean, he told reporters following the game.

Pérez (2-3) gave up two runs and four hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out six.

Consecutive two-out doubles from López and Edwards in the first gave Miami an early lead. López had a homer overturned into a double when his drive deflected off Phillies centerfielder Crawford’s glove and the wall before it landed in the green background.

RHP Andrew Painter (1-2, 5.25) was set to start for Philadelphia on Saturday against RHP Max Meyer (1-0, 3.30).

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Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws against the Miami Marlins during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)

Miami Marlins pitcher Eury Pérez (39) throws against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)

Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Justin Crawford (2) collides with the fence in center field chasing a fly ball hit by Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) that was later ruled a ground rule double during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper (3) steals second base as Miami Marlins second baseman Xavier Edwards (9) looks on in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (28) hits a single and drives in a run against the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)

NEW YORK (AP) — The Orioles put Ryan Helsley on the 15-day injured list Friday because of right elbow inflammation and are optimistic their closer will not miss significant time.

“I think he said he felt something maybe like a week ago, but it wasn’t anything concerning,” Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz said after a 7-2 loss to the Yankees. “I think ultimately he kind of thought it would just go away and discomfort was still there and level of concern is not high at all.

Albernaz said testing came back clean and Helsley is taking anti-inflammatory medication. Helsley is the 12th player to go on the injured list for the Orioles, who also lost starting pitcher Zach Eflin to Tommy John surgery on his left elbow.

A 31-year-old right-hander signed to a $28 million, two-year contract in December after struggling in the final two months of last season for the Mets, Helsley is perfect in seven saves chances. He is 0-2 with a 2.53 ERA in 12 appearances, striking out 15 and walking seven in 10 2/3 innings.

Helsley last pitched Tuesday when he threw 12 pitches and earned the save in Baltimore’s 5-3 win over Houston.

While with St. Louis, Helsley was sidelined between June 7 and Sept. 1 in 2023 because of a strained right forearm. He also missed the final six weeks of the pandemic shortened 2020 season with knee and elbow injuries and missed time as a rookie in 2019 with right shoulder impingement.

In other moves, the Orioles recalled left-hander Cade Povich from Triple-A Norfolk to start against the Yankees, selected the contract of right-hander Albert Suárez from the Tides and optioned right-hander Cameron Foster to A Norfolk.

Povich allowed home runs to José Caballero and Ben Rice in the second inning and pitched four innings. Suárez followed Povich with 2 2/3 innings in his sixth appearance this year.

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

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Ryan Helsley (21) delivers during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)