In a game that had all the drama of a late-night thriller, Kyle Schwarber continued his torrid streak by launching two home runs, bringing his majors-leading total to 20, as the Philadelphia Phillies mounted a stunning comeback to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-9 in 10 innings on Friday night.
The Phillies found themselves in a deep hole early, trailing by six runs. But Schwarber, the red-hot designated hitter, ignited the rally with a pair of two-run homers—first off Braxton Ashcraft in the fifth inning, then again off Mason Montgomery in the seventh. It was a performance that showcased why he's one of the most feared sluggers in the game right now.
Schwarber's recent tear is nothing short of historic. With nine home runs in his last eight games, he matches a feat he previously accomplished in 2021 while playing for the Washington Nationals. Only Albert Belle, the legendary Cleveland Indians outfielder, has achieved this twice in MLB history, placing Schwarber in elite company.
The Pirates were so wary of Schwarber's power that with a three-run lead in the ninth inning, closer Gregory Soto intentionally walked him on four pitches with the bases loaded. That decision backfired when Bryce Harper followed with a two-run single off the top of the wall in right-center field, tying the game and sending it to extras.
In the 10th inning, the Phillies pounced on Pirates reliever Dennis Santana (2-3). Brandon Marsh led off with an RBI single, and Rafael Marchán followed with a two-run single to put Philadelphia ahead for good. Jose Alvarado (1-1) delivered a scoreless ninth inning, and Orion Kerkering worked the 10th for his first save of the season, sealing the win as the Phillies improved to 5-1 in their last six games and 13-4 since Don Mattingly took over as manager last month.
For the Pirates, Brandon Lowe provided a bright spot with two home runs of his own, while Marcell Ozuna crushed a 438-foot blast into the Pittsburgh bullpen—a shot that reliever Yohan Ramirez caught with a traffic cone. Those cones have become a quirky tradition in the Pirates' dugout and stands at PNC Park this season, after outfielder Jake Mangum brought one into the clubhouse in early April, coinciding with an offensive outburst against the Reds.
The series continues Saturday, with NL Cy Young runner-up Cristopher Sánchez (4-2, 2.11 ERA) set to take the mound for the Phillies against Pittsburgh's Bubba Chandler (1-4, 4.62). With Schwarber swinging a red-hot bat and the Phillies riding a wave of momentum, fans can expect another electrifying matchup.