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.
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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