Sep 3, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) gives the thumbs up sign after hitting a three-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The Phillies crossed the Canadian border, and, in the process, it seems like their offense took advantage of the exchange rate.
Led by Kyle Schwarber's five hits that constituted of an infield single, an opposite field double, and three home runs, including a game-winning, three-run bomb in the ninth inning, the Phillies overcame a five-run deficit in the first inning and a second four-run deficit in the sixth inning to pull off an epic 10-9 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Phillies matched a season high with 18 hits. They also walked six times, had one batter hit by a pitch, and another reach on an error. There was a constant flow of traffic on the basepaths, and there needed to be to pull off the stunner.
Schwarber became the first Phillie in franchise history to hit three home runs in a game twice in the same season. He's just the 28th to do it in Major League history. His 15 total bases were the most ever in a nine-inning game by a Phillies player. Mike Schmidt had 17 in a four-home run game in 1976 (it went 10 innings) and Chuck Klein had 16 in a 10-inning game in 1936.
Schwarber also had 14 total bases in a game in Los Angeles last month, which is when he posted his other three-homer game.
He started it off with his 12th leadoff home run of the season of Toronto starter Chris Bassitt.
Kyle Schwarber blasts his 12th leadoff homer of the season 😤 pic.twitter.com/ZNBpQ5ESEz
The Phillies had the lead after the top of the first and then not again until Schwarber capped it off with his ninth inning bomb.
That's because Tyler Phillips, who was given an opportunity to take over the role as the Phillies No. 5 starter, lasted just 10 batters, and couldn't get three outs. By the time the inning ended, the Phillies trailed 6-1.
But they didn't hang their heads. They didn't chalk this up as a loss being the foregone conclusion. Instead, they turned the game over to the bullpen while the offense pecked away at the lead. And the bullpen was very good. Six relievers combined to pitch 8 1/3 innings and allowed just three runs on eight hits.
Among the six relievers were Jose Alvarado, who pitched for the first time since coming off the restricted list, and Taijuan Walker, who was demoted to the bullpen to give Phillips the opportunity to start. Alvarado pitched one inning and didn't allow a run or a hit. He had one walk and one strikeout.
And Walker was solid. He did allow two runs and four hits in just three innings, but considering it was his first relief appearance in a decade and both runs scored on a home run by the red-hot Vladimir Guerrero Jr., it was a positive outing. What made it especially so is Walker threw 41 pitches - 31 of them for strikes.
Tanner Banks, Jose Ruiz, Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm combined for the other 4 1/3 innings of work. Kerkering (4-2) picked up the win. Strahm earned his second save.
But this night belonged to Schwarber and the offense.
In the third inning, Schwarber led off with a double off the left field wall. After Trea Turner reached on an error, Bryce Harper singled to load the bases, Schwarber would score on an RBI ground out by Castellanos and then Bryson Stott roped an opposite field double to score Turner and trim the lead to 6-3.
The next inning, Schwarber faced Bassitt again, and again, he took him deep.
Kyle Schwarber is having himself a night 🔥
1st AB: Leadoff homer
2nd AB: Double
3rd AB: 30th homer of the season pic.twitter.com/uf0sDX7itk
Toronto stretched the lead back to four runs on Guerrero's dinger, but the Phillies kept coming.
In the seventh, Castellanos was hit by a pitch and made it to third on another double by Stott. After J.T. Realmuto struck out, both Brandon Marsh and Edmundo Sosa walked, allowing a run to score. That set up the first of two crucial at bats by Kody Clemens.
Shoutout Kody Clemens.
Came off the bench and worked an 11 pitch at bat in the 7th that resulted in a RBI.
Then, a seven pitch double in the 9th.
Tremendous work. pic.twitter.com/fWPEhsyE5R
Clemens pinch hit for Johan Rojas in that spot. He faced 11 pitches against Toronto reliever Erik Swanson, fouling off six pitches before finally getting a run home on the fielder's choice.
After a pitching change to bring in lefty Genesis Cabrera, Schwarber got his fourth hit, an infield single to Guerrero at first that scored Sosa, and suddenly the Phillies were within one run.
The Phillies had plenty of chances throughout the game to score any number of the 25 baserunners they had. But heading into the ninth inning they were just 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position and had left 12 men on base.
Someone needed to change that.
But before they could, runners needed to get on base.
Edmundo Sosa laced a two-strike single to center and Clemens, who remained in the game, doubled on a two-strike pitch down the right field line.
Those key at bats set up Schwarber for the historic heroics.
KYLE SCHWARBER, THIRD HOME RUN OF THE GAME FOR THE LEAD 😮 pic.twitter.com/DWw6ilavdf
"He was unbelievable," Thomson told reporters after the game. "Usually for those guys - (Bryce) Harper, Trea (Turner) and Schwarber - they come in bunches. So, it was good to see."
The top three guys in the Phillies lineup, a trio of highly paid players who have been underwhelming for large swaths of the second half of the season, were a combined 10-for-18.
With the win, the Phillies trimmed their magic number to clinch the N.L. East title to 18 with 24 games to go. However, as exciting as the win was, there were some things that have fans a little nervous today.
Alec Bohm missed his fourth straight game with a strain in his left hand. The Phillies were expecting him back for the Toronto series, but Thomson said before the game, that wasn't going to happen now because he's been healing slower than expected.
The new plan is for Bohm to play at some point during the Miami series. When? Who knows, but the Phillies don't plan to put him on the I.L. because Thomson said they don't want to "tack on two-or-three days."
If they put Bohm on the I.L. it would be retroactive to last Thursday, when he got hurt. He would have to miss 10 days minimum, which would knock him out of the entire road trip. Based on Thomson's line of "two-to-three days," if you count backwards, that will put him in line to play either Friday or Saturday.
Much has been made of Harper's injury woes that seem to have zapped his power as he's now back to wearing the bulky black arm sleeve that he wore in 2023 to protect his elbow after returning from Tommy John Surgery. But it's going to be made worse after seeing Harper swing and miss on consecutive pitches in the ninth inning, wincing in pain on both swings. It was so painful the second time, that he dropped the bat. Harper told Thomson he was fine and he played the field in the bottom of the ninth. But those swings didn't look good and the health of his arm seems to be getting worse, not better.
Castellanos was removed from the game the next half inning after getting hit by the pitch on his quad. Thomson said it's not a concern and called it a Charley Horse. Castellanos is trying to play in all 162 games this season, so it's likely he will play through whatever bruising he has to deal with.
Finally, Trea Turner had two collisions on the basepaths that got him a little dinged up as well. When stealing third base, his head banged into the leg of Blue Jays third baseman Addison Barger, leaving Turner down on his knees stretching his neck for a moment or two. Later, as he was sliding to break up a double play, Toronto shortstop Ernie Clement made contact with Turner's right hand ad wrist as he was coming through second base. It quickly jarred the wrist backwards and Turner reacted painfully.
"He got banged up a little bit," Thomson said. "He'll be alright."
Phillies fans hope so.
The Phillies wrap up the quick two-game series when they turn to LHP Cristopher Sanchez (9-9, 3.49) and hope he can give them some length, especially after how taxed the bullpen was on Tuesday. The Blue Jays will counter with RHP Bowden Francis (8-3, 3.66). Francis has gone at least seven innings in each of his last four starts and allowed just one hit in three of them.
