Zack Wheeler blanketed seven innings with four hits and eight strikeouts while Bryce Harper crushed a first-pitch home run off defending NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes, giving the Phillies a 6-0 win and a three-game series sweep Sunday in Pittsburgh. Wheeler improved to 3-0 on the season, his ERA sits at 1.99 since returning from blood clot surgery in his upper right arm.

Don Mattingly's Phillies improved to 14-4 under his interim command, crossing the .500 threshold at 24-23 for the first time since April 7. Skenes, whose 20-inning scoreless streak ended in the fifth, gave up five runs in five-plus innings and watched his afternoon unravel as Philadelphia's lineup kept fouling off his best stuff.

Philadelphia has won seven of eight and sits eight games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. A 16-5 stretch since Wheeler's return has stabilized the club after an 8-18 start through late April. Shortstop Trea Turner said the team feels capable of this level of play heading into the stretch run.