MLB home run leader Schwarber punctuates Phillies' unlikely comeback win over the Cardinals

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — All Philadelphia slugger Kyle Schwarber could do was smile as he surveyed the situation while heading to the plate Sunday in the bottom of the ninth inning of a tied game with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Phillies had pieced together an unlikely rally from a four-run deficit in the home half of the ninth and Schwarber was stepping in against St. Louis Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien.

It was at that point that Schwarber shot a grinning glance at teammate Trea Turner.

“I’m just there chuckling, laughing and smiling with Trea (about) how we got to that point,” Schwarber said.

Schwarber then did his part.

“Then when the ball came off the bat, I stood there and watched. It was a little bit of a shock that we were able to do that in that fashion,” Schwarber said. “But that’s why you keep playing. That’s why you play all the outs. Never give up, and keep fighting until the end.”

The slugger fought to a 2-2 count, then took a swing that even he couldn’t downplay.

“It was awesome,” he said with a shrug. “Just a little bit of disbelief.”

The shot over the Citizens Bank Park “batter’s eye” traveled an estimated 459 feet, good for his major league-leading 39th home run, and a rather incredible 6-4 Phillies victory, their ninth straight.

It was the Phillies’ first walk-off win by home run since Schwarber accomplished the feat on July 9, 2023, against the Dodgers.

And, it was the most resounding blow during an August rebirth. In a few weeks’ time they’ve gone from falling behind in the wild-card race to erasing much of what seemed like an insurmountable Atlanta lead in the NL East. Pending the Braves’ game with Milwaukee Sunday night, the Phillies were 2 1/2 games back in the division.

To that end, there is no disbelief on Schwarber’s part. He pointed out that he and four teammates all had two strikes on them during their two-out at-bats in the ninth.

“I feel like it’s a lot of really good baseball, complete baseball,” he said. “It’s not like we’re out there just hitting homers and relying on that. I feel like there’s a lot of things we’re doing really well.”

Harper, who has reached base safely in 25 straight games, had led off the ninth with a double, but two quick outs later the fans started packing up. But J.T. Realmuto singled, Justin Crawford walked, and utility man Edmundo Sosa hit a three-run double. Then came a game-tying single by seldom-used Bryan De La Cruz, followed by the winning stroke by Schwarber.

All of that off O’Brien, who had stayed in the game even after mound visit by manager Oli Marmot as Schwarber waited to hit.

“We’re a winning team,” Sosa said. “We’re the Phillies. I can say we’re really surprised, but when we’re late in the game we never stop fighting.”

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Philadelphia Phillies' Brandon Marsh, left and Bryan De La Cruz, right, douse Kyle Schwarber, center, after a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber, left, and Bryce Harper celebrate after Schwarber hit 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)

Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber gestures while running to home plate after hitting the 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)

Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber hits the 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)

PHOENIX (AP) — Ildemaro Vargas hit a go-ahead, two-run triple in a decisive four-run seventh inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied for a 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday to win the series and keep pace in the National League playoff race.

The D-backs remain two games behind the San Diego Padres for the final NL wild-card spot.

Trailing 3-1 in the seventh, Arizona loaded the bases with no outs against starter Andrew Abbott. Lars Nootbaar made it 3-2 with a fielder's choice off reliever Luis Mey and then Vargas followed with his two-run triple that rolled all the way to the right-center field wall.

Corbin Carroll's sacrifice fly brought home Vargas and made it 5-3.

Kevin Ginkel struck out Tyler Stephenson looking to end the game, stranding runners on first and second. It was his second save of the year.

It was a tough ending for Abbott (6-9), who pitched well through the first six innings. He gave up four runs and seven hits and two walks, striking out six.

The Reds jumped to a 3-0 lead in the third on Sal Stewart's RBI single and Eugenio Suarez's two-run single. Elly De La Cruz started the inning with a leadoff double into the left-field corner.

The D-backs cut the deficit to 3-1 in the sixth on Gabriel Moreno's sacrifice fly that brought home Carroll, who reached on a triple. His 16 triples this season are the most in the big leagues and his 59 career triples are the most among active MLB players.

Arizona left-hander Mitch Bratt lasted just three innings for a second straight outing. The rookie gave up three runs and five hits and three walks while striking out three.

The D-backs send RHP Merrill Kelly (8-11, 5.37 ERA) on Monday to face Cubs RHP Kevin Gausman (6-11, 4.59).

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Arizona Diamondbacks' Corbin Carroll, right, and Cincinnati Reds catcher Will Banfield, left, watch the flight of Carroll's double during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Cincinnati Reds' Dane Myers, left, scores a run as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher James McCann (8) gets a late throw during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Andrew Abbott throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz (44) celebrates his run scored against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Reds' Dane Myers (17) during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno breaks his bat on a swing during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)