Bryce Harper returned from a three-day paternity leave and belted a two-run homer to lead the visiting Philadelphia Phillies past the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 on Thursday.

Starter Zack Wheeler (2-3) allowed one hit over six shutout innings to record the win for the Phillies, who earned a split of the four-game series with their second shutout in four days. Wheeler struck out eight and walked four in recording his second straight win.

Wheeler extended his scoreless streak to 13 1/3 innings in posting his second straight scoreless start, and third this season.

Trea Turner had three hits, while Harper and Bryson Stott had two hits. Stott drove in two with a two-out, third-inning triple that put Philadelphia on top, 2-0.

Cincinnati starter Nick Martinez (0-1) took the loss, allowing five runs on a career-high tying 11 hits over six innings. Martinez returned to the rotation after Frankie Montas went on the injured list with a bruised forearm.

After missing the first three games of the four-game series, Harper picked up where he left off against Cincinnati, drilling a two-run homer in a four-run third inning as the Phillies built a 4-0 lead.

The third-inning blast reached several rows deep up the right-field bleachers for his fifth homer of the season, four of which have been at the expense of Cincinnati pitching.

Harper had three homers, including a grand slam, in a 9-4 win on April 2 in Philadelphia.

Harper fouled a ball off the outside of his left knee in the fifth inning on Thursday and went down to one knee. Two pitches later, he lined a grounder to short for his second hit.

The Reds had a big chance in the third when they loaded the bases against Wheeler but couldn't push across a run.

Following a walk to Jeimer Candelario, Santiago Espinal singled to right for Cincinnati's first hit. Two outs later, Elly De La Cruz walked to load the bases. Spencer Steer lined a ball down the left-field line just foul before flying out to the warning track in right to end the threat.

--Field Level Media