Jul 2, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber (12) warms up before a game against the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park. (Credit: Grace Del Pizzo-On Pattison)
The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals. The New York Mets lost to the Texas Rangers. The all-important magic number to clinch the NL East is down to just one.
In the beginning of the game, it didn't look like that would be the outcome. Phillies starter Taijuan Walker had a rough first inning, yielding five hits and three runs to the Royals. One run came on Maikel Garcia's RBI single, and the other two came on Salvador Perez's 299th career home run.
As they've been so adept at recently, though, the Phillies answered right back. Brandon Marsh put two runs on the board with an RBI double in the bottom of the first:
Brandon Marsh's bat is HOT🔥pic.twitter.com/vm4Oc1LNte
The top of the third featured Perez's 300th career home run, which was coincidentally also his 1,000th career RBI. The 35-year-old's solo shot extended Kansas City's lead to 4-2.
J.T. Realmuto contributed a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third:
J.T. brings in run No. 3!
(via @aokstott)pic.twitter.com/zhZRN7IAKC
Then, in the bottom of the fifth, Kyle Schwarber did what Kyle Schwarber does:
That's Schwarbomb No. 51😳pic.twitter.com/b84uKYjED1
After Schwarber tied the game, Nick Castellanos entered as a pinch hitter for Max Kepler and proceeded to add on another sac fly. Otto Kemp knocked in another run with an RBI double, which was his third double in three games:
Otto Kemp is on fire in September👀
(via @aokstott)pic.twitter.com/y73OSC7BCk
Walker threw 83 pitches across five innings, allowing seven hits and four runs while striking out three and walking one. He gave up two home runs, both to Perez.
Schwarber notched his MLB-leading 126th RBI of the season in the sixth inning:
More SchwaRBIs!pic.twitter.com/9UwCv4FL05
A Vinnie Pasquantino sacrifice fly cut the Phillies' lead to 7-5, but Brandon Marsh answered in the bottom half of the seventh with a no-doubter:
Marsh is MASHING😳😳😳pic.twitter.com/PjkglbZRDC
The pattern of the Phillies and Royals trading runs continued with Carter Jensen's RBI single in the top of the eighth.
Jhoan Duran did what he does best and closed out the game, securing the Phillies' sixth straight win, and the series win over the Royals.
Notably, Harrison Bader registered his seventh multi-hit game and his fourth three-hit game in the month of September. In Trea Turner's absence, the Phillies' trade deadline acquisition is excelling from the leadoff spot.
Next up, the Phillies will close out their homestand Sunday afternoon against the Royals at Citizens Bank Park. If they win – or if the Mets lose – the Phillies will take the NL East for the second straight year.
