Harper Homers Early, Wheeler Fans 13 in Phillies’ Commanding 7-2 Win Over Marlins
The Philadelphia Phillies wasted no time stamping their authority on Friday night’s contest at Citizens Bank Park, hammering the Miami Marlins 7-2 behind a power surge from Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, and a dazzling 13-strikeout performance from Zack Wheeler.
In a game highlighted in our America Bet MLB Match Previews 18/04/25, all eyes were on the two aces — Wheeler and Sandy Alcantara. What unfolded was a night of extremes. One pitcher soared, the other stumbled, and the Phillies capitalised early to ensure a comfortable victory in front of a raucous home crowd.
First-Inning Fireworks Set the Tone
Bryce Harper wasted no time getting the Phillies on the board. Batting third, Harper crushed a two-run home run off Alcantara in the opening frame, launching a high fastball deep into the right-field seats. By the time the Marlins starter recorded his fourth out of the game, he had already thrown 53 pitches and surrendered six earned runs.
Kyle Schwarber, who entered the game as the National League home run leader, padded his lead with a solo shot in the fifth — his seventh of the year — giving the Phillies a 7-0 cushion.
It was yet another slow start for Alcantara, whose velocity and command were both lacking. Making just his fourth start since returning from Tommy John surgery in October 2023, Alcantara’s rust was evident. He gave up six earned runs, four hits, two walks, and two wild pitches in just two innings of work, ballooning his ERA to 7.27.
Wheeler Dials In
On the other side, Zack Wheeler put on a clinic. Dominant from start to finish, Wheeler struck out 13 Marlins in seven innings, allowing just five hits and two earned runs — both coming via a two-run homer from Eric Wagaman in the sixth. Wheeler didn’t walk a batter, and struck out the side in the seventh inning to close his outing on a high.
It marked the 19th time in 20 games this season that a Phillies starter had pitched at least five innings — a testament to the rotation’s consistency and depth. Wheeler now improves to 2-1 on the year with a tidy ERA of 3.67 and 36 strikeouts in four starts.
Offensive Standouts & Injury Notes
Alongside Harper and Schwarber’s long balls, Alec Bohm and Johan Rojas added RBI singles in the second inning. Bryson Stott drove in another with a sacrifice fly, and Rojas later scored on a wild pitch — all part of a four-run second that put the game to bed early.
Nick Castellanos continued to hit well, notching two hits before exiting the game due to a lingering hip flexor issue. He’s left back-to-back games with discomfort, though manager Rob Thomson has indicated he’s day-to-day.
For the Marlins, there were few bright spots. Xavier Edwards extended his hitting streak to 11 games, continuing to be a rare spark in an otherwise misfiring lineup. Wagaman’s two-run homer was Miami’s only offensive highlight, as the team dropped their fourth straight game.
America Bet – Betting Tips Review
The preview correctly anticipated a dominant showing from Philadelphia and a shaky outing from Alcantara. Here’s a breakdown of how our tips performed:
Betting Tips Outcome
✅ Philadelphia Phillies to Win – Clear and comfortable
✅ Zack Wheeler Over 6.5 Strikeouts – Crushed it with 13
✅ Bryce Harper to Record an RBI – Two-run homer sealed it
✅ Total Runs – Over 7.5 – Cashed late with Philly’s barrage
✅ Kyle Schwarber to Hit a Home Run – Nailed it in the fifth
⚠️ First Inning to Have a Run – Just missed; Harper’s HR came in the bottom half
❌ Alcantara to Last Over 4.5 Innings – Pulled after two
⚠️ Miami Total Runs – Over 2.5 – Fell just shy with two
❌ Game to Be Decided by 1-2 Runs – Blowout
⚠️ Castellanos to Record 2+ Hits – Had two but left injured
Overall, a strong night for bettors following our America Bet predictions — particularly on Harper, Wheeler, and Schwarber-based props.
What’s Next
The Phillies will look to secure the series win on Saturday with Taijuan Walker (1-1, 2.30 ERA) set to take the mound against Cal Quantrill (1-1, 5.79). After a frustrating week that included a series split with the Giants, this victory reaffirms Philadelphia’s place as a team to fear in the NL.
For the Marlins, the loss extends a worrying stretch. Their bullpen is taxed, Alcantara’s recovery is stalling, and their lineup lacks consistent firepower. They’ll need a spark quickly to avoid falling too far behind in the standings.
One thing’s for sure — this game was never in doubt from the first swing of Bryce Harper’s bat.
