Kyle Schwarber is on an absolute tear, and the Philadelphia Phillies are riding the wave. On Sunday, Schwarber launched two home runs, Bryce Harper added another, and the Phillies blanked the Colorado Rockies 6-0—marking their 10th win in 13 games since Don Mattingly took the helm as manager.
Schwarber now has five homers in his last four games, tying him with Yankees slugger Aaron Judge for the major league lead with 16. This marks the second time in his career he's homered in four straight games, a feat that puts him in elite company. His power surge has been a key factor in Philadelphia's dramatic turnaround.
The fireworks started early. In the first inning, Schwarber and Harper went back-to-back off Rockies starter Tomoyuki Sugano (3-3), setting the tone for a dominant afternoon. Brandon Marsh also had a day to remember, going 4-for-4 with four singles, boosting his major-league-leading batting average to .353.
The Phillies' resurgence under Mattingly has been nothing short of remarkable. After starting the season 9-19 and losing six straight series, Philadelphia has now won four consecutive series for the first time since 1984. Adding to the feel-good story, the team pitched a shutout on Mother's Day for the second straight year, following a 3-0 win in Cleveland last season.
Cristopher Sánchez (4-2) was the star on the mound, allowing just six hits and striking out seven over seven innings. His shutout streak now stands at 20 2/3 innings, showcasing the kind of dominance that can carry a team deep into the summer.
For the Rockies, Sugano struggled, giving up five runs and seven hits over five innings on 81 pitches. Colorado will look to regroup as they head to Pittsburgh for a three-game series starting Tuesday, with Michael Lorenzen (2-4, 6.92 ERA) taking on the Pirates' Paul Skenes (5-2, 2.36 ERA).
The Phillies, meanwhile, travel to Boston for a three-game set beginning Tuesday. Zack Wheeler (1-0, 3.12 ERA) will get the start against a yet-to-be-announced Red Sox pitcher.
In other roster news, Philadelphia claimed right-hander Jackson Rutledge off waivers from Washington and optioned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, adding depth to their pitching staff as they continue their hot streak.