Schwarber's 2-run HR with 2 out in 9th rallies Phillies for a 6-4 win
over the Cardinals
[August 24, 2026]
By ROB PARENT
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kyle Schwarber's MLB-leading 39th
homer of the season was a two-run shot with two out in the bottom of the
ninth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies rallied from a four-run
deficit and beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 on Sunday.
Schwarber's walk-off blast traveled an estimated 459 feet to center
field and punctuated an incredible comeback with six runs in the bottom
of the ninth. The win was the Phillies' ninth straight and gave
Philadelphia its third consecutive series sweep. |
Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber gestures after hitting the game
winning home run in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St.
Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP
Photo/Laurence Kesterson) |
|
The Phillies were scoreless through eight innings when Bryce
Harper led off the ninth with his second double of the game.
Riley O’Brien (3-5), the Cardinals' fifth reliever, got two
quick outs before J.T. Realmuto singled and Justin Crawford
worked a walk to load the bases. That brought on utility man
Edmundo Sosa, who cleared the bases with a double down the
left-field line that cut the lead to 4-3. Bryan De La Cruz's RBI
single scored Sosa, tying the game at 4.
Pitching-short Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol opted to stick
with O’Brien and Schwarber ended the game by hitting a 2-2
sinker to deep center.
Phillies reliever Alex McFarlane (3-1) pitched the ninth and
earned the victory. Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez allowed
four runs over 6 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts.
Alec Burleson had a pair of RBI singles and Jose Fermin homered
as the Cardinals built a 4-0 lead.
St. Louis starter Kyle Leahy seemed well on his way to another
winning day after victories in all three of his previous August
starts. Leahy has gone 11 consecutive starts allowing two or
fewer runs, but with the Cardinals keeping him on a limited
pitch count as he transitions from reliever to starter. The
29-year-old right-hander was limited to 63 pitches and left
after four innings despite pitching a two-hit shutout with four
strikeouts to that point.
Up next
The Cardinals have an off day Monday before opening a home
series against Baltimore. St. Louis has not named a starter to
face Orioles RHP Shane Baz (4-13, 4.02 ERA) on Tuesday.
The Phillies will send RHP Zack Wheeler (10-4, 2.92 ERA) against
Mariners RHP Bryce Miller (4-7, 3.71) in Seattle on Monday.
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