Kyle Schwarber is on a heater. So are the Phillies. It's not a coincidence
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kyle Schwarber can't really explain why he's on a tear right now. “It's a great question,” Schwarber said. One the Philadelphia Phillies slugger isn't particularly interested in answering.
All he knows is that he's found a little something. Even more importantly, so has his team. So even on a night the Phillies designated hitter smashed a pair of two-run homers that boosted his season total to a major league-leading 20 and drew a bases-loaded walk during a ninth inning rally, Schwarber was quick to deflect attention to all that was happening around him during an 11-9, 10-inning victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.
Bryce Harper, batting behind him, had four hits, including a tying single after Pirates closer Gregory Soto walked Schwarber on four pitches to pull the Phillies within two. Backup catcher Rafael Marchan delivered a two-run single in the 10th. Orion Kerkering picked up his first save of the season and just the third of his career.
“There’s so much good that went on today that we were able to respond and fight back,” Schwarber said. “That’s a really positive thing for us. ” The win pushed Philadelphia's record to 13-4 since Don Mattingly replaced Rob Thomson as manager and pulled the Phillies to within a game of .
500 (22-23). The fact that surge has come in lockstep with Schwarber going off is not a coincidence. “It’s pretty amazing,” Mattingly said.
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