Phillies erupt for 13-3 win vs Orioles on Aug 5. Kyle Schwarber's grand slam & Harrison Bader's homer led an 8-run inning to extend the NL East lead.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when you thought this team couldn't get more exciting, they go out and hang a baker's dozen on the Orioles. The new-look Philadelphia Phillies put on an absolute clinic Tuesday night, demolishing Baltimore 13-3 in a game that felt like a statement. Powered by a two-homer, six-RBI masterpiece from Kyle Schwarber and a clutch, go-ahead blast from newcomer Harrison Bader, the Phils showed the rest of the league they mean business.
Kyle Schwarber's grand slam was his NL-best 40th home run of the season, pushing his MLB-leading RBI total to a staggering 94.
The game was deadlocked at 3-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth, and then the floodgates opened. It all started with the new guy. Harrison Bader, playing in just his first few games as a Phillie, stepped up and crushed a tiebreaking three-run homer that sent Citizens Bank Park into a frenzy. It was the perfect introduction. But the inning was far from over. The Phils batted around, and with the bases loaded, Kyle Schwarber delivered the knockout blow: a towering grand slam to right field. The eight-run inning buried the Orioles and showcased the terrifying potential of this lineup.
The offensive party didn't stop in the sixth. Bryce Harper added his 17th homer, and Edmundo Sosa and Weston Wilson went back-to-back in the eighth, capping off a six-homer night for the Fightins. The performance perfectly illustrated the front office's deadline strategy. While Bader was making an immediate impact on the field, the team's other big acquisition, closer Jhoan Duran, watched from a bullpen that is suddenly one of the most formidable in baseball. To make it happen, the team optioned Johan Rojas and placed Daniel Robert on the IL, signaling a clear 'win-now' mentality.
This win was doubly sweet. While the Phillies were running up the score, the New York Mets were losing a heartbreaker in extra innings to the Guardians. The result? The Phillies' lead in the National League East has swelled to 1.5 games. With a 63-48 record, the team is in the driver's seat. And the good news keeps coming. On the farm, aces-in-waiting Aaron Nola and Joe Ross are continuing their rehab assignments in Lehigh Valley. Their potential return later this month could provide a massive boost to a starting rotation that just saw Jesús Luzardo earn his 10th win of the season.
What a day to be a Phillies fan. A dominant win, a new fan favorite in Harrison Bader, an extended division lead, and the promise of more firepower on the way. This team isn't just winning; they're sending a message. With the trade deadline in the rearview and the roster solidified for the stretch run, all eyes are on October. Buckle up, because this playoff push is going to be one heck of a ride.