MLB News & Moments: Phillies Erupt In Ninth, Win On Schwarbomb

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The clock is ticking. This is the last full week of August, then the September sprint to the finish. There are essentially three NL teams playing for two wild-card spots, while the AL is complete chaos, with all three divisions and the three wild-card berths to be decided, although it looks like three AL East teams are likely to get in.

Today’s Headlines

Schwarbomb Caps 6-Run Ninth, Keeps Phils’ Streak

Shut out and shut down for eight innings, the Philadelphia Phillies‘ eight-game winning streak was all but over. But like Rocky Balboa, the Phillies got up off the mat and delivered a stunning knockout. The Phillies scored six runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, capped by Kyle Schwarber’s two-run walk-off homer, to win their ninth straight, a 6-4 triumph over the St. Louis Cardinals. The streak has pulled the Phillies within three games of first-place Atlanta in the NL East, while keeping a grip on the No. 2 NL wild card, two games ahead of the San Diego Padres, who are a game up on the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was the Phillies’ first walk-off homer since Schwarber also turned the trick on June 9, 2023. The homer was Schwarber’s 39th, which leads MLB and gave the Phillies their third straight sweep. With All-Star Cardinals right-handed closer Riley O’Brien beginning the ninth, Bryce Harper had a leadoff double before the next two Phillies were retired. J.T. Realmuto singled Harper to third, then took second on defensive indifference. Justin Crawford walked and Edmundo Sosa doubled home all three to make it 4-3. Bryan De La Cruz singled home Sosa, bringing up Schwarber to do Schwarber things, cranking a 2-2 pitch out to deep center.

Not A Classic, But Atlanta Has More Fun

It wasn’t the cleanest of games, but it createed some terrific memories for all the Little League players, as well as as the MLB players who put on the show. A combination of a very effective right-handed starter Tyler Mahle and a couple of timely hits sent Atlanta to a 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in the Little League Classic at Williamsport, Pa. Mauricio Dubón had a RBI ground-rule double, Sean Murphy had a tiebreaking single in the fourth and Michael Harris II provided late insurance with a ninth-inning solo homer for Atlanta, which avoided being swept by the MLB-leading Brewers. Mahle scattered six hits over five innings, allowing a run while walking two and striking out five. The Brewers created some late drama as rookie Luis Lara tripled to right with two outs to score Christian Yelich, trimming Milwaukee’s deficit to 3-2 and forcing right-handed closer Raisel Iglesias in for a four-out save. Lara was stranded and Harris then added his insurance homer in the ninth. The Brewers got the first two runners on in the bottom of the ninth, but William Contreras flew out deep to right-center and Jake Bauers hit into a game-ending double play.

Tatis Has Another 2-Homer Game

One huge game from a superstar each week is fun. But a second? Maybe Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres is making up for a slow start to the season. Tatis had his second two-homer game of the week as part of a 4-for-5, four-RBI game in the Padres’ 8-1 triumph over the Minnesota Twins. The Padres swept the three-game set from the Twins, who had been holding the No. 3 AL wild card entering the series. Tatis, who didn’t have a homer until May 30, now has 17, including an MLB-best 12 since the All-Star break. Jackson Merrill homered for the second day in a row for the Padres and has 11 since the break.

D’backs Rally To Topple Reds

With all the things the Arizona Diamondbacks have dealt with this week, it would be easy for the team to go into a shell. But that is not the D’backs’ personality. They fight back. Ildemaro Vargas hit a go-ahead two-run triple in the seventh inning as the D’backs rallied for four runs in a 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. After loading the bases in the seventh, the D’backs got an RBI fielder’s choice from Lars Nootbaar, then Vargas followed with his fifth triple of the season to put the D’backs up 4-3. Corbin Carroll, who earlier hit his 16th triple this year, plated Vargas with a sacrifice fly.

Ohtani Set For Mound Return

After facing live hitters Saturday and feeling fine Sunday, superstar two-way player Shohei Ohtani is ready to return to the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani will throw one more bullpen session, then be back in the rotation when the Dodgers return home next week. Ohtani has been out since July 3 due to soreness in his left knee. Without the ability to ramp up on a rehab assignment, the Dodgers will bring Ohtani along slowly. He threw 30 pitches in six simulated at-bats Saturday. The two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers can afford to bring Ohtani along slowly as they have the largest lead of any first-place team in MLB.

By The Numbers

5 Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez stole his first base in five years in an 11-7 win over the slumping Detroit Tigers. The Royals have won eight straight, while the Tigers have lost five in a row.

2 Chicago Cubs sluggers Ian Happ and Pedro Ramirez each hit grand slams in a 19-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

18 of 19 Tampa Bay Rays right-handed starter Nick Martinez retired 18 of 19 batters he faced in a 3-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles to avoid being swept.

Best Moments From Yesterday

Scenes From Williamsport

There were plenty of fun and cool moments surrounding the Little League Classic.

Honoring A Legend

The Colorado Rockies unveiled a statue honoring Hall of Fame outfielder Larry Walker.

Friendly Neighborhood Center Fielder

With the latest Spider-Man movie out, it is easy to use the superhero as a reference to a player making a catch against the wall. But none have climbed the wall like Washington Nationals center fielder Jacob Young did for this catch.

Another Glitch

Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez was at the middle of another strange play. After throwing the ball into the stands with two outs this week vs. the Brewers, Rodriguez was being thrown a ball as the top of the sixth started when the umpire saw what was happening. It resulted in the Mariners being called for a pitch-clock violation, although you can’t really blame this one on J-Rod. Like the first time a center fielder was called for that while playing defense.

Injuries and Other Moves

⚾ New York Yankees left-hander Ryan Weathers went on the 15-day IL with a strained right forearm flexor, while outfielder Cody Bellinger was activated from the 10-day IL following a strained left hamstring.

⚾ Seattle Mariners infielder Brendan Donovan was placed on the seven-day concussion list after an incident the previous day in the batting cage.

⚾ Right-handed starter Zack Littell’s terrible 2026 continued as he was designated for assignment by the Arizona Diamondbacks, who activated right-hander Drey Jameson from the 15-day IL. Littell was DFA’d by the Nationals, then latched on with the D’backs, making three starts, allowing 12 runs in 12 innings.

⚾ Los Angeles Angels left-handed starter Yusei Kikuchi (left shoulder inflammation) was activated off the 60-day IL to start Sunday against the Texas Rangers.

⚾ The Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays will play in the 2027 Little League Classic, which will be held Aug. 19.

Articles You Should Read

Becoming Salvy: Five stories that embody beloved Royals captain — Latif Love, Kansas City Star

As Giants fade into also-rans, NL West packed with drama — Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle

Yankees can no longer count on Stanton and the end should be near — Chris Kirschner, The Athletic

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