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Salisbury: All-Star Zack Wheeler punctuates one-hit gem with salute to fans – ‘That’s why it’s awesome to play here in Philly’

July 6, 2025

Jul 6, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws a pitch during the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

As Zack Wheeler made his way to the mound for the top of the ninth inning, the huge crowd of 42,055 rose to its feet and began to make noise. Lots of noise. Some fans clapped. Others shouted. They knew they were about to witness an endangered species.
Entering Sunday, there had been just 19 complete games thrown in Major League Baseball this season and none by the Phillies. Wheeler hadn’t thrown once since 2021. Excitement and anticipation gripped the crowd as the 35-year-old right-hander rang up his 12th strikeout victim of the day, Will Benson, to open the inning. In an instant, chants of Whee-ler! … Whee-ler! … Wheeler! filled the air.
“That was cool,” said second baseman Bryson Stott, hi...

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