TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 03: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates his third home run of the game in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 03, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo : Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Kyle Schwarber delivered a performance for the ages on Tuesday night, smashing three home runs-including a go-ahead three-run blast in the ninth inning-as the Philadelphia Phillies rallied from a six-run deficit to edge out the Toronto Blue Jays 10-9.
Schwarber, who has been on a power surge this season, became the first player in Phillies history to hit three home runs in a game twice in one season. His third homer of the night, a towering 426-foot line drive, came off the ninth pitch he faced from Blue Jays reliever Chad Green, Yahoo! Sports report. The blast, which reached the second deck in right field, put the Phillies ahead 10-8 and sealed one of the most memorable comebacks of the year.
Schwarber's night was nothing short of spectacular. He finished 5-for-6 with six RBIs, falling just a triple short of the cycle. Along with his three home runs, Schwarber also hit a double in the third inning and added an RBI single in the seventh, capping off one of the most dominant performances by any player this season.
Phillies' Resilience
The game didn't start in Philadelphia's favor, as they quickly found themselves down 6-1 after a rough first inning for starter Tyler Phillips. Phillips lasted just two-thirds of an inning, giving up six runs on eight hits, including two-run homers by Daulton Varsho and Addison Barger. But the Phillies showed resilience, chipping away at Toronto's lead throughout the night.
After Schwarber's second homer in the fourth cut the deficit to 6-4, Philadelphia continued to fight back, scoring three runs in the seventh inning to pull within one. In the ninth, Edmundo Sosa led off with a single and Kody Clemens followed with a double, setting the stage for Schwarber's heroic go-ahead homer.
Blue Jays' Struggles
For the Blue Jays, it was a tough night despite Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s strong performance. Guerrero went 4-for-5 with a two-run homer, his 28th of the season, which temporarily extended Toronto's lead to 8-4 in the sixth inning. But their bullpen couldn't hold off the Phillies' relentless attack. Chad Green, who had been reliable for much of the season, blew his second consecutive save after converting 16 straight opportunities. Green's struggles began when Sosa and Clemens reached base in the ninth, and they culminated in Schwarber's game-winning homer.
Phillies' Bullpen Secures the Win
Philadelphia's bullpen played a crucial role in the comeback, with Orion Kerkering pitching a scoreless eighth to earn his fourth win of the season. Despite giving up a solo homer to Leo Jiménez in the bottom of the ninth, Matt Strahm managed to close out the game and secure his second save in eight chances.
With the win, the NL East-leading Phillies matched a season-high 18 hits and extended their winning streak to three games. The victory also highlights the team's ability to battle back from adversity, making them a formidable opponent as the postseason approaches.
As the Phillies continue to chase their playoff dreams, Kyle Schwarber's historic night will be remembered as a defining moment in their season.
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