Zack Wheeler, Phillies blank Padres in NLCS opener

SAN DIEGO -- Zack Wheeler pitched seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball and Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber homered to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 2-0 win over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday in the opener of the National League Championship Series.

Philadelphia relievers Seranthony Dominguez and Jose Alvarado each threw a hitless inning to complete a one-hitter in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series.

Schwarber's first home run of the postseason came on the first pitch Yu Darvish threw in the top of the sixth and travelled 488 feet after leaving the bat at 119.7 mph. Schwarber's home run, off a hanging curve from Darvish, was the first ever to reach the second deck in right since Petco Park opened in 2004.

The velocity of Schwarber's home run was the fifth-highest since the pitch-tracking era began in 2008 and the hardest-hit in a postseason game. It was also the farthest homer ever hit at Petco Park and the longest of Schwarber's career.

It was the sixth homer allowed by Darvish in the postseason, accounting for all six runs he has allowed. Darvish (2-1) gave up two runs on three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in seven innings.

Meanwhile, Wheeler (1-1) allowed only two Padres to reach base. Juan Soto drew a one-out walk in the first, and Wil Myers hit a one-out, line-drive single to center in the fifth. Wheeler allowed one hit and one walk while striking out eight. He threw 83 pitches (59 strikes).

Dominguez struck out two in a perfect eighth. Alvarado got the save with a scoreless ninth, although he had to survive the lone Padres threat of the night.

Jurickson Profar drew a one out walk and was safe at second when Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm threw wide of second on a possible game-ending, double-play grounder by Soto. Alvarado retired Manny Machado on a fly to right then struck out Josh Bell to end the game.

Darvish had struck out six of the previous eight batters when Harper came to the plate with one out in the fourth.

After taking a ball, Harper went the other way with an outside fastball, depositing it into the third row of seats in left just beyond the leap of Padres left fielder Jurickson Profar. The homer was the fourth by Harper this postseason.

--Bill Center, Field Level Media