Kyle Schwarber's 2 HRs, including a grand slam, led the Phillies' 6-homer barrage in a 13-3 rout of the Orioles on Aug 5, 2025. Harrison Bader also homered.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was an absolute home run derby at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night as the Phillies dismantled the Baltimore Orioles 13-3 in a spectacular display of power. The offense, led by a colossal performance from Kyle Schwarber, looked unstoppable, extending the team's NL East lead to a game and a half and putting the league on notice.
Kyle Schwarber's two-homer, six-RBI night included a grand slam and his National League-leading 40th long ball of the season.
The game was a slugfest from the home dugout, but the real fireworks began in an eight-run sixth inning that blew the game wide open. Kyle Schwarber crushed a grand slam for his second homer of the night, cementing his status as one of the league's most feared power hitters. But he wasn't alone. Newly acquired center fielder Harrison Bader introduced himself to the Philly faithful in the best way possible, launching his first home run in red pinstripes—a three-run shot in that same inning. The power surge continued with Bryce Harper adding his 17th homer, and Edmundo Sosa and Weston Wilson hitting back-to-back jacks in the eighth. On the mound, Jesús Luzardo battled through six innings, and while he surrendered three solo homers, he did enough to earn his 10th win of the season.
Bader's timely home run highlights the front office's aggressive trade deadline strategy. The move to bring in both Bader and closer Jhoan Duran signaled a clear 'win now' mentality. While it meant optioning fan-favorite Johan Rojas to Triple-A, Bader's immediate impact is a promising sign. The roster shuffling continued Tuesday, as the team fortified its pitching depth by activating right-hander Joe Ross from the 15-day injured list. To make room, promising arm Seth Johnson was optioned to Lehigh Valley. These moves show a club fine-tuning its machine for the grueling stretch run.
The Phillies (64-48) won't have much time to celebrate as they look to extend their two-game winning streak tonight. They'll send veteran Taijuan Walker (3-5, 3.82 ERA) to the hill to face Baltimore's Dean Kremer (8-7, 4.27 ERA). Walker will look to build on the team's momentum and continue their dominance at home, where they boast an impressive 36-20 record. A win tonight would clinch the series against a formidable American League opponent and further solidify their spot atop the division.
With the offense firing on all cylinders and key arms returning to the fold, the Phillies are sending a clear message to the rest of the National League. Tonight, all eyes will be on Taijuan Walker to see if he can keep the momentum rolling and secure a series win against a tough Orioles team. The push for October is on, and right now, it's a thrilling ride.
