The Philadelphia Phillies staged one of the most dramatic comebacks of the season Sunday, scoring six runs in the bottom of the ninth inning before Kyle Schwarber delivered the knockout blow with a towering two-run homer that gave the Phillies a 6-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Schwarber’s MLB-leading 39th home run of the season came with two outs and sent the Phillies into a celebration at Citizens Bank Park. The blast traveled an estimated 459 feet to center field, completing an extraordinary comeback after Philadelphia had been held scoreless through the first eight innings.
The victory extended the Phillies’ winning streak to nine games and completed their third consecutive series sweep.
Philadelphia entered the ninth trailing 4-0, but Bryce Harper immediately sparked the rally by leading off with his second double of the game. Cardinals reliever Riley O’Brien then retired the next two batters, leaving St. Louis just one out away from securing the victory.
Instead, the Phillies erupted. J.T. Realmuto kept the inning alive with a single, and Justin Crawford followed with a walk to load the bases. Edmundo Sosa then stepped to the plate and ripped a bases-clearing double down the left-field line, cutting the Cardinals’ lead to 4-3.
Bryan De La Cruz followed with an RBI single that scored Sosa and tied the game at 4. With Philadelphia suddenly one swing away from completing the comeback, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol stayed with O’Brien. Schwarber made him pay.
With a 2-2 count, Schwarber drove a sinker deep into center field and over the wall, giving Philadelphia its stunning walk-off victory. Alex McFarlane pitched the ninth inning for Philadelphia and earned the win, improving to 3-1.
The comeback overshadowed a strong performance by St. Louis, which appeared firmly in control for most of the afternoon. Alec Burleson delivered a pair of RBI singles, while José Fermín added a home run as the Cardinals built a 4-0 advantage. Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez battled through 6⅔ innings, allowing four runs while striking out seven.
St. Louis starter Kyle Leahy was particularly effective early. The 29-year-old right-hander held Philadelphia to two hits and no runs while striking out four over four innings. Leahy had entered the game having allowed two or fewer runs in 11 consecutive starts and had won all three of his previous August starts.
However, St. Louis was limiting Leahy’s workload as he continues transitioning from a relief role to the starting rotation. He was held to 63 pitches and departed after four innings despite pitching a shutout.
The Cardinals’ bullpen nearly completed the job, but Philadelphia’s relentless ninth-inning rally changed everything.
For eight innings, the Phillies couldn’t find an answer. In the ninth, they produced six runs, erased a four-run deficit and finished the game with Schwarber’s spectacular walk-off homer.
It was another statement victory for a Philadelphia club that continues to roll. With nine straight wins and three consecutive series sweeps, the Phillies are building tremendous momentum heading deeper into the season.
