EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCINCINNATI -- Zack Wheeler tied a career high with 14 strikeouts, Kyle Schwarber hit his major league-best 31st home run of the season, and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 on Tuesday night.On a day when Major League Baseball announced that Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft, St. Louis Cardinals closer Riley O'Brien and Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo were added to the National League All-Star roster, Wheeler went out and backed up his claim that he should have been on that list, as well."For sure," Wheeler said after the win, when asked if he was pitching with a little bit of an edge vs. the Reds. "That was a reminder for whoever needs to be reminded. So, it pisses me off, and it's kind of BS. So, maybe if I wasn't necessarily right in there, I wouldn't be saying this. But I feel like I've earned it."Schwarber concurred."It just sucks that we have to deal with it," he said. "We dealt with it last year, we dealt with it this year. When someone deserves it, someone that's putting up numbers deserves it, you want them to just get that nod."Wheeler (9-1) threw 104 pitches over seven innings. He allowed four hits, an earned run, but no walks. Jhoan Duran earned his 22nd save of the year, striking out all three batters in the ninth."You can point fingers everywhere," Schwarber said. "We want that for Zack. You're only in this game for so long. And sure, we all want to win the World Series, we're all playing for each other, and the organization. But when it's all said and done, at the end of the day, you want to be able to look back, and feel like you have some things to put some feathers in the cap."A 36-year-old right-hander from Smyrna, Georgia, Wheeler has been selected as an All-Star three times in his career -- 2021, 2024 and 2025. But this year's snub seems to have reverberated throughout the Phillies' clubhouse. And with the midsummer classic being held at Wheeler's home field -- Citizens Bank Park -- next Tuesday, there might be some added fuel to the Phillies' fire."They could have did it a few different ways," Wheeler said. "Maybe put me in, but not necessarily be chosen right away. But, I feel like I was right there. ... You figure they would have a clue about it by now, with how many All-Star Games they've had."On Tuesday, the Phillies got on the board in the third inning when Trea Turner had an RBI groundout for a 1-0 lead and Schwarber hit a two-run shot over the right-center field wall to finish a three-run inning.Derek Hill doubled and Justin Crawford singled to put runners at the corners to get things started.Turner scored in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Edmundo Sosa.Reds starter Andrew Abbott (5-5) pitched six innings, striking out eight. He gave up five hits and had three earned runs in the loss.The Associated Press contributed to this report.
