Happ and Ramírez hit grand slams to propel the Cubs to a 19-2 blowout of the Mariners

SEATTLE (AP) — Ian Happ and Pedro Ramírez each hit grand slams and had five RBIs, Pete Crow-Armstrong also homered and the Chicago Cubs blew out the Seattle Mariners 19-2 on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep.

Michael Conforto hit Chicago's other homer, getting his 11th of the season on a leadoff shot in the third that Happ highlighted with his two-out, two-strike shot with the bases loaded.

Mariners starter Bryce Miller (4-8) issued three straight two-out walks before facing Happ. The Seattle right-hander got ahead in the count 1-2, but Happ kept his hands tucked on a down-and-in splitter to blast it off the right-field foul pole for his 22nd home run of the season.

Seattle (62-69) remained three games behind Houston in the AL West and fell three games back for the final wild-card spot. The Cubs (75-56) preserved a 4 1/2 -game lead in the NL wild card.

Miller also walked the bases loaded in the fifth, an inning in which Chicago scored on a fielder’s choice by Alex Bregman. Miller issued a career-high seven walks in the game.

Ramírez hit a grand slam in the eighth off Jhonny Pereda, Seattle’s backup catcher. Crow-Armstrong hit his team-leading 33rd home run of the season earlier in the inning.

Aaron Civale (6-7) threw four scoreless innings in relief of Chicago starter Shota Imanaga, who was pulled in the third.

Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena, who hit a walk-off home run during Saturday’s 5-4 win, smacked a leadoff home run for the second straight day. Arozarena became the 11th player in major league history with at least six seasons with both 20 or more home runs and 20 or more stolen bases.

Seattle utilityman Brendan Donovan was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list on Sunday, a day after he was hit in the head by a baseball in the batting cages.

Mariners RHP Logan Gilbert (10-7, 3.35 ERA) will start opposite Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler (10-4, 2.92) on Monday as Seattle opens a three-game series against Philadelphia. RHP Kevin Gausman (6-11, 4.58) gets the nod for the Cubs against the Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly (8-11, 5.37) on Monday in Arizona.

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Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Aaron Civale throws against the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Chicago Cubs' Pedro Ramírez celebrates scoring on an RBI single from Carson Kelly against the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller looks on after walking Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Fans react as the grand slam from Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ against the Seattle Mariners goes into the stands during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ hits a grand slam against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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)