Bryce Harper homers in return from daughter's birth as Philadelphia Phillies beat Reds
Bryce Harper homered in his return to the lineup following the birth of his third child, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 Thursday for their second shutout win in splitting a four-game series.
Zack Wheeler (2-3) allowed one hit in six innings, a third-inning single by Santiago Espinal. He struck out eight and walked four, extending his scoreless steak to 13 1/3 innings.
Philadelphia has won eight of 10 and leads the major leagues with five shutouts, one more than the Phillies total in all of last season.
Harper returned from paternity leave for the birth of a daughter and hit a two-run homer that capped a four-run third inning against Nick Martinez (0-1). Harper has four home runs in four games against the Reds this season, hitting three on April 2.
Bryson Stott hit an RBI triple and scored on Kyle Schwarber's sacrifice fly, then added an RBI single in the sixth. Trea Turner had three hits, raising his average to .336.
Orion Kerkering and Jeff Hoffman finished the three-hitter.
Cincinnati was shut out twice in series after not getting blanked in its first 21 games. The Reds won the season series 4-3.
Martinez (0-1) gave up five runs and 11 hits in six innings. He is starting because Frankie Montas is on the 15-day injured list with a bruised right forearm after being struck Saturday by a comebacker off the bat of the Los Angeles Angels' Taylor Ward.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: RHP Taijuan Walker, on the injured list since spring training with right shoulder soreness, is expected to make his first start of the season for the Phillies at San Diego on Sunday.
Reds: Jonathan India returned and went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts as a DH after missing three games with an undisclosed illness. ... OF Jake Fraley missed his fourth straight start due to illness.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola (3-1, 3.16) will oppose RHP Joe Musgrove (3-2, .5.74) in San Diego on Friday.
Reds: RHP Graham Ashcraft (3-1, .5.24) will start Friday at Texas against RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-2, 3.30).
