The Philadelphia Phillies secured a first-round bye in the playoffs after hitting a franchise-record eight home runs during an 11-1 win over the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night. Kyle Schwarber contributed two of those home runs, bringing his season total to 56 and moving him within two of Ryan Howard’s single-season franchise record of 58 set in 2006.
Reflecting on the achievement, Schwarber said, “Don’t get me wrong. I know that it’s been a successful season, not just for me, but for a lot of guys in the clubhouse and for our team in general. You know, back-to-back NL East champions, going to the playoffs again. We just got a bye, being one of the top two teams in the National League. So, there’s a lot to be proud of. And we’re not done yet.
“You don’t just want to be remembered for regular seasons. You want to be remembered for special things down the road.”
Edmundo Sosa made history as well by becoming the first shortstop in Phillies history to hit three home runs in a single game. He expressed his excitement through an interpreter: “You saying that again, chills again. I’m a firm believer that if you work hard, if you do things the right way, if your heart’s in a great place, and if you play with 100 percent of your effort, great things are bound to happen to you. It was my turn today to be a part of history, to be a part of this great feat. When you mention all those great names, All-Star players, Hall of Fame players that have been a part of baseball and a part of this great team, it just makes me even more excited.”
Other Phillies who homered included Bryson Stott—who hit his longest career homer at 441 feet—Alec Bohm and Otto Kemp.
Schwarber’s third-inning home run against Marlins pitcher Ryan Weathers marked his 23rd homer off left-handed pitching this season—a new MLB record for most homers by a lefty batter against lefty pitchers in one year.
“There’s been a lot of hard work put into that,” Schwarber said about his success against left-handers. “It kind of takes you back to 2020, getting non-tendered, then you sign a one-year deal and get with a really good hitting coach [current Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long]. He came up with a plan and attacked it and it’s grown over the years.
“Hopefully, it keeps going.”
The seventh inning saw four Phillies home runs—the first time since August 17, 1985—that included shots from Schwarber (projected at 468 feet), Bohm and Kemp before Sosa broke the franchise record with his solo shot.
“I think that’s one of the first franchise records that I’m a part of,” Kemp remarked.
A brief moment occurred when fan interference was suspected on Sosa’s third homer; however, replays confirmed it cleared the fence without issue.
Afterward teammates reflected on their favorite moments from the night:
“Kemp’s,” manager Rob Thomson commented while passing by when asked which homer stood out most.
“I’m going to go with Schwarber’s [in the seventh],” Kemp replied. “I thought he almost killed someone.”
“Sosa getting three,” Bohm added. “The first day off the IL. Other than myself, there’s no one I’d rather see hit three homers. He’s just always ready to play. He’s always a great teammate. It makes it even cooler when it happens to be everybody’s favorite guy. Everybody loves him.”
Despite Jesús Luzardo striking out ten batters over seven innings for Miami—a career-high season total—the Phillies’ offensive performance defined the game.
“It’s always fun on those days where, you know, everybody’s kind of chipping in,” Bohm said about clinching their playoff position amid such an offensive display.“The dugout is fun. Everybody’s happy. Those are the kind of days that make up for some of the tougher days.”
