Kyle Schwarber delivered a pivotal moment in the sixth inning with a grand slam, and Bryce Harper secured the win for the Philadelphia Phillies with a two-run homer in the eighth, leading to a 9-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night.
Schwarber’s grand slam, his eighth overall and 32nd home run of the season, came off reliever José Fermin and marked a significant highlight for the evening. The game started off with the Phillies in the lead when Harper’s grounder initiated an unusual double out in the first inning but followed up nicely with Nick Castellanos’ two-out, RBI single.
The Angels briefly took control in the fourth inning, with Taylor Ward and Jo Adell hitting back-to-back home runs, propelling them to a 3-1 lead. Despite a promising fourth inning where the Angels left the bases loaded, the momentum shifted back to the Phillies. Turner brought one run back in the fifth, and a home run from Yoan Moncada put the Angels ahead again, but it wasn’t enough to stave off the Phillies’ late-game surge.
A notable performance from Bryce Harper saw him hitting 12 for 24 over the last six games, with seven doubles and four home runs, showcasing his offensive power.
Looking forward, the Phillies are set to send left-handed pitcher Ranger Suárez (7-3, 2.15 ERA) to the mound against José Soriano (6-7, 3.90) of the Angels in the series finale on Sunday, aiming to build on this victory.
The Phillies’ strong performance is a positive sign for their playoff hopes, as their lineup is showing great power and capability at critical moments. The ability to execute in high-pressure situations like Saturday night demonstrates their potential for continued success in the ongoing season.