Schwarber's 41st Homer Sparks Phillies to 9-1 Victory Over Rangers
Kyle Schwarber launched his 41st home run in the first inning, setting the tone for the night as the Philadelphia Phillies triumphed over the Texas Rangers 9-1 on Friday. Brandon Marsh contributed significantly with four hits, including a solo homer that solidified Philadelphia's lead in the fourth inning.
Trea Turner also made headlines with a three-run homer during a five-run ninth inning, finishing the game with five RBIs. Cristopher Sánchez (11-3) matched his career-high in wins, allowing just six hits and one run, echoing his performance from his All-Star season in 2024.
Schwarber's impressive 413-foot shot grazed the right-field foul pole, marking a significant moment as he aimed to catch up to Seattle's Cal Raleigh, who leads the majors in home runs. The Phillies, currently at the top of the NL East, began their nine-game road trip by snapping a 10-game losing streak at Globe Life Field, a venue where they hadn't won since their opening day victory in 2014.
For the Rangers, Josh Jung managed a tying single in the first inning, but the team has now faced back-to-back home losses after an eight-game winning streak. Merrill Kelly (9-7), making his first home start for Texas since being traded from Arizona, struggled with control, walking a season-high five batters and hitting another, while giving up four runs over 4 1/3 innings.
Marsh's fourth-inning liner just cleared the right-field fence, giving Philadelphia a 2-1 advantage. Turner followed up with a two-run double after Kelly issued consecutive walks to two other batters.
Sánchez showcased his skills on the mound, striking out six batters, five of which came from his signature changeup, leading the league with 97 strikeouts using that pitch alone.
Looking ahead, Phillies left-hander Jesús Luzardo (10-5, 4.32 ERA) is set to face Rangers ace Jacob deGrom (10-4, 2.80), who has struggled recently, allowing five runs in each of his last two outings.
