If it’s not Kyle Schwarber, it’s Bryce Harper leading the Philadelphia Phillies. Harper hit his 15th home run of the season as the Phillies secured a 9-4 victory over the New York Yankees on Saturday at Yankee Stadium.
Just two games after becoming one of only eight active Major League players to reach 350 career home runs, Harper added another with a Statcast-projected 425-foot shot. Philadelphia’s key players have been pivotal in this series against strong opponents, with Schwarber hitting two homers in Friday’s opener before Harper followed suit.
Trea Turner has also made significant contributions from the leadoff spot, going 6-for-11 with two doubles and a triple across the first two games. J.T. Realmuto has supported them well, delivering multiple hits and securing a go-ahead home run on Friday.
Manager Rob Thomson commented, “I think a lot of times they feed off of Harp, but I think they’re feeding off each other now.”
Ranger Suárez contributed significantly from the mound on Saturday by allowing just one run in 5 2/3 innings and striking out eight after struggling in his previous start.
Suárez noted through interpreter Diego D’Aniello that pitching is easier when backed by nine runs but emphasized control over pitches as essential.
Since the All-Star break, Harper and Schwarber have been instrumental for Philadelphia with a combined total of eleven home runs between them. Brandon Marsh praised their performance saying, “The veteran guys that we have that are hitting for us, they’re doing incredible.”
The Phillies’ offense has been explosive against New York’s lineup; their top five hitters collected twenty hits over two games including four homers. Marsh added about this momentum: “It’s contagious… It bleeds throughout the whole lineup.”
