Kyle Schwarber addressed fans at Citizens Bank Park before the Philadelphia Phillies’ final regular season game, acknowledging their support and referencing the Eagles’ concurrent game. Schwarber started his 162nd game of the season, a feat only matched by Jimmy Rollins in 2007 for the Phillies. He finished with 56 home runs, ranking second in franchise history behind Ryan Howard’s 58 in 2006, and led the National League in both home runs and RBIs with 132.
Schwarber is expected to be a top contender for the NL MVP Award and will attract interest as a free agent this winter. Addressing the crowd, he said: “We’re going into Red October again. Now, we feed off all you guys here. You know that. The Bank’s a hard place to play. So, we come here, we start this thing off here, we need to hear all you guys, buying into us, everything against the other team. And we’re going to ride with you guys, all right?
“We put in the work every single day. We’ve got a dream. That’s to hold up a trophy, and it starts here with you guys and all of us here. So, thank you guys again for all the support throughout this whole year, and let’s see where this takes us, all right?”
Trea Turner returned from injury on Sunday after missing games since September 7 due to a strained hamstring. He played five innings as planned and went hitless but reported feeling healthy: “Just being smart,” Turner said. “Today, I felt like today I could’ve run harder than I did, because I feel really good. The body feels good. The five innings felt good. The swing feels good. So, just more of getting back out there and being smart and being ready for Saturday.” Turner concluded his season with a .304 batting average—the first Phillies player to win an NL batting title since Richie Ashburn in 1958.
Cristopher Sánchez received recognition from fans after pitching 5 2/3 scoreless innings and striking out eight batters during Sunday’s game against Minnesota. Manager Rob Thomson said he wanted Sánchez pulled mid-inning so fans could show appreciation: “I told him that about 44,000 people think I’m an idiot right now for taking you out,” Thomson said he told Sánchez on the mound. “But we want to take care of him.” Sánchez responded through an interpreter: “It’s special, truly special, for me…I try to give back what I receive from them, which is a lot of love.” Sánchez ended his season with career highs including a 13-5 record and a 2.50 ERA over 32 starts.
Nick Castellanos secured victory with a sacrifice fly in extra innings—his fifth walk-off plate appearance over two seasons—tying him for most in Major League Baseball during that period alongside San Francisco’s Patrick Bailey. Reflecting on why this team may be better positioned for postseason success than previous years Castellanos stated: “We’re more experienced as a group, that’s for sure…Experience is always going to be on our side.”
Minnesota’s Max Kepler tied Sunday’s game late with his own home run after struggling offensively over recent weeks.
Reliever Orion Kerkering struck out three batters in the tenth inning to earn the win following inconsistent performances earlier in September; manager Thomson expressed optimism about Kerkering’s progress: “Really encouraged by what he’s done,” Thomson said.
Backup catcher Garrett Stubbs received applause from fans when making his first plate appearance of the season after limited playing time since his call-up earlier this month; Thomson commented: “He’s a legend.”
With these developments completed during their final regular-season matchup—a walk-off win—the Phillies advance into postseason play riding momentum from both individual achievements and strong fan engagement.
