Philadelphia slugger Kyle Schwarber launched four home runs against Atlanta on Thursday night,becoming the fourth Phillies player and 21st major leaguer to achieve the rare feat.
Schwarber went 4 for 6 with a franchise-record nine RBIs in a commanding 19-4 victory. He now leads the national League in home runs with 49 and is just one behind Seattle’s Cal Raleigh for the major league lead. Schwarber also paces the majors with 119 RBIs.
Did you know? Only 21 players in Major League Baseball history have hit four home runs in a single game. Schwarber is the fourth Phillie to accomplish this, joining an exclusive club.
This remarkable performance marks Schwarber’s third four-homer game of the season, following similar outings by Eugenio Suárez and Nick Kurtz. The last Phillies player to hit four home runs in a single game was Mike Schmidt, who accomplished the feat against the Chicago Cubs in April 1976.
Schwarber ignited his power display in the frist inning with a solo shot off Cal Quantrill, a 2-1 curveball that sailed into right field. He later flew out to center in the second inning.
Pro tip: Schwarber’s success against Quantrill and Cox highlights the importance of adjusting to pitching styles. He capitalized on curveballs, turning them into powerful home runs.
In the fourth, after Quantrill was removed with runners on base and one out, Schwarber greeted reliever Austin Cox with a three-ball, two-strike curveball that cleared the right-field wall for his fourth multi-homer game this season.
As Phillies fans chanted “M-V-P! M-V-P!” in the fifth, Schwarber delivered a three-run, opposite-field drive off Cox, extending Philadelphia’s lead to 15-3. He added another three-run homer to right field off Wander Suero in the eighth, making the score 18-4.
Schwarber’s day ended with a pop out in the eighth inning.
Reader question: What do you think Schwarber’s performance means for the Phillies’ playoff chances? share your thoughts!
