Phillies fall to Yankees 4-3 on July 27, 2025, despite rookie Otto Kemp's first multi-homer game. Zack Wheeler struggles in one inning in the narrow loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was one of those games that felt like October in July. The energy at Yankee Stadium was electric, the stakes felt high, but ultimately, the Philadelphia Phillies came up just short, falling 4-3 to the Yankees. While the loss stings, dropping the Phils to 60-45, it was impossible to ignore the massive silver lining: rookie Otto Kemp, who announced his presence with authority by launching his first career multi-homer game.
Rookie Otto Kemp finished 2-for-4 with two towering home runs, his first career multi-homer game, providing all the offense the Phillies could muster after the first inning.
The entire game hinged on a brutal second inning for ace Zack Wheeler. After the Phils took an early lead on a Nick Castellanos homer, Wheeler uncharacteristically lost his command, allowing four runs to cross the plate. A game-tying two-run double by Ryan McMahon was the big blow, followed by RBI hits from Austin Wells and Trent Grisham. Wheeler, who tied a career-high by hitting three batters, settled down to pitch six solid innings, but the damage was done. The bullpen was flawless in relief, but the Yankees' own relief corps, led by Devin Williams, slammed the door shut.
While the final score was a disappointment, the performance of Otto Kemp was anything but. The rookie outfielder took Yankees starter Carlos Rodón deep not once, but twice. His first blast, a 378-foot shot to right-center in the 2nd, got the Phils on the board. He followed it up with a majestic 434-foot bomb to dead center in the 5th. It was the kind of power display that gets a city excited, a clear sign that Kemp is adjusting to big-league pitching and could be a key contributor down the stretch.
Even in a loss, J.T. Realmuto reminded everyone why he's the Best Catcher in Baseball. In the third inning, with Cody Bellinger trying to score from second on a single, Johan Rojas fired a missile to the plate. The throw was slightly up the line, but Realmuto soared into the air, caught the ball, and applied a leaping tag on a sliding Bellinger to complete an incredible inning-ending double play. The play lit up social media and saved a run, showcasing the defensive prowess that makes this team so dangerous.
Off the field, there was positive news regarding the pitching staff. Aaron Nola, recovering from an ankle sprain and rib fracture, is slated to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on July 31. The plan is for him to make at least three starts, putting him on track for a mid-August return to the rotation. Alec Bohm is also progressing from his rib fracture, with a similar mid-August timeline. Getting those two key pieces back will be a massive boost for the stretch run.
Losing a series to the Yankees is never fun, but the Phillies leave the Bronx with their heads held high at 60-45. The emergence of Otto Kemp as a legitimate power threat is a thrilling development, and with Aaron Nola's return on the horizon, the team is poised to get even stronger. As the trade deadline looms, the front office has a clear picture of this team's grit and its needs. It's time to shake off this loss, regroup, and get ready for the push to the postseason.
