Rookie Otto Kemp sparks a thrilling 11th-inning rally as the Phillies walk-off the Cubs 4-3 on June 10, 2025. Read how Kemp, Stott, and Marsh ended the skid.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when it felt like the nightmare would never end, a spark arrived from the most unexpected of places. After ten games of misery, a sweep in Pittsburgh, and another gut-punch in the top of the 11th, the Phillies desperately needed a hero. They found one in Otto Kemp, an undrafted rookie from a Division II school, who ignited a rally that reminded everyone just how fun baseball in South Philadelphia can be.
3-for-5 with a run scored and a crucial 11th-inning bunt single in his home debut. Not bad for an undrafted kid from Point Loma Nazarene University.
The final frame was a microcosm of the Phillies' recent struggles and ultimate resilience compressed into 20 minutes of madness. After Ian Happ's 8th-inning homer tied it, the game went to extras. The Cubs struck first in the 11th, with Pete Crow-Armstrong doubling to give Chicago a 3-2 lead and sucking the air out of the park. But this time, the Phils didn't fold. Bryson Stott started the rally with a perfect bunt single. Then came the man of the hour, Otto Kemp, who fearlessly laid down another bunt for his third hit of the night. J.T. Realmuto followed with a clutch RBI single to tie it, setting the stage for Brandon Marsh, who lined a single into the outfield to send the crowd into a frenzy and seal the 4-3 win.
Let's be honest, few fans knew the name Otto Kemp a week ago. The undrafted prospect from Division II Point Loma Nazarene University was a long shot to even make it to Triple-A, let alone the show. But in his home debut, he played like a seasoned veteran. Kemp finished the night 3-for-5, recording his first MLB hit in the 5th and promptly scoring a run. His hustle and grit were infectious, providing a jolt of energy to a lineup that has looked lifeless. His audacious bunt in the 11th inning was the kind of heads-up, winning baseball this team has been missing, and a testament to the club's improving farm system.
This wasn't just another game in June; it was a desperately needed course correction. Coming into the night 1-9 in their last 10 games, the Phillies were reeling. The win itself is a massive relief, but the *way* they won feels significant. It wasn't a towering home run that saved them, but rather hustle, small ball, and clutch hitting from up and down the lineup. It was a team win, sparked by a rookie who embodies grit. It's the kind of victory that can shake a team out of a slump and change the narrative.
One win doesn't erase a bad stretch, but it can be the start of something new. The Phillies will look to build on this exhilarating victory tomorrow, and they're handing the ball to one of their most exciting young arms to do it. Top prospect Mick Abel (1-0, 0.79 ERA) gets the start against the Cubs, giving fans another reason to believe the momentum might finally be shifting back in the right direction.
