Phillies Record Night
Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber Make Phillies History With Cycle and Multiple Home Runs
Bryce Harper hit for the cycle and Kyle Schwarber slugged three home runs as the Philadelphia Phillies routed the New York Mets 15-3 on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park. The two sluggers became only the second pair in MLB history to pull off that feat in the same game, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
The only other time it happened was June 3, 1932, when Tony Lazzeri hit for the cycle and Lou Gehrig hit four home runs for the New York Yankees, according to ESPN Research. It took 94 years for someone to match it.
Harper Completes First Career Cycle in Fifth Inning
Harper opened the scoring with a solo home run in the first inning. Then, during an eight-run third inning, he doubled and singled in the same frame. He capped the cycle in the fifth inning with a two-run triple into the left-center gap, reaching third base in 11.8 seconds and losing his helmet along the way, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
The crowd of 43,402 — a sellout — gave Harper a standing ovation as he stood on third base. It was the 11th cycle in Phillies franchise history and Harper's first in a 15-season MLB career. The last Phillie to do it was Weston Wilson on August 15, 2024.
Schwarber Hits Two Homers in One Inning, Three on the Night
Schwarber launched a 456-foot solo home run to the second deck to open the third inning. Later in the same inning, he returned to the plate and hit a 457-foot, three-run shot off reliever Cionel Pérez, according to the Associated Press. That's over 900 feet of home runs in a single inning.
Schwarber added a third home run in the seventh inning off Tobias Myers. It was his fifth career three-homer game and his MLB-leading 28th home run of the season. He is now on pace to challenge the 50-homer mark. During the FOX broadcast, analysts said, "there's strong and then there's Kyle Schwarber strong," per FOX Sports.
Mets Starter Peralta Endured a Career-Worst Collapse
Mets starter Freddy Peralta lasted just 2.2 innings. He gave up 10 hits and 10 earned runs. His ERA ballooned from 3.90 to 4.83 in one night, according to Rotowire. The Phillies pounded out 17 hits total against a Mets staff that managed just five hits in return.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza did not sugarcoat the result. "It sucks," he said, per Amazin' Avenue. New York entered the game with a 34-41 record, and questions are growing about whether Mendoza's job is safe.
Phillies Win Big But Still Trail Atlanta by 7.5 Games
Cristopher Sánchez earned his ninth win of the season, improving to 9-3. He allowed just one earned run over six innings and dropped his ERA to 1.80. The Associated Press noted that Sánchez has now allowed two or fewer earned runs in 23 straight home starts at Citizens Bank Park — the second-longest such streak in MLB history behind Jacob deGrom.
Despite the blowout, the Phillies remain 7.5 games behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves in the NL East, per FOX 29. The win does strengthen their Wild Card position. The performance also all but locks both Harper and Schwarber into starting spots for the upcoming All-Star Game.
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