The Phillies flexed their power in historic fashion Wednesday night, hitting a franchise-record eight home runs in an 11-1 rout of the Miami Marlins to secure a first-round postseason bye.
Edmundo Sosa, activated before the game after missing nine days with a groin injury, became the star of the night by launching three home runs in three consecutive at-bats. His three-run shot in the fifth inning off reliever Lake Bachar broke the game open, extending Philadelphia’s lead to 6-1.
Kyle Schwarber added two homers, giving him 55 and 56 on the year to pad his National League lead. He also doubled and singled, falling just a triple shy of the cycle. Schwarber’s third-inning blast marked his 23rd homer against a left-hander this season, the most in major league history.
Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm and rookie Otto Kemp also went deep as the Phillies (93-65) pushed their NL-best win total higher and locked themselves into one of the top two seeds. The NL East champions will open their Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 4.
The offensive eruption came at the expense of Miami’s pitching staff. Starter Ryan Weathers (2-2) allowed three homers and five runs in 4 2/3 innings. After he exited, things got worse: Valente Bellozo gave up four long balls in the seventh inning alone.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s own former Marlin, Jesús Luzardo (15-7), was dominant. The left-hander struck out 10 over seven innings, allowing just three hits and one run in one of his sharpest outings of the season.
The Phillies’ power barrage recalled their seven-homer game against Atlanta on August 28, when Schwarber launched four. On this night, they took it one step further, etching their names into the club record books.
Sosa’s return from the IL was electric. His three consecutive homers, capped by the three-run shot in the fifth, put Philadelphia firmly in control.
Schwarber’s 23rd homer off a lefty this season set the major league record for most in a single year.
Philadelphia will send RHP Walker Buehler (9-7, 5.13 ERA) to the mound in Thursday night’s series finale against Miami’s RHP Janson Junk (6-3, 4.27).
