Kyle Schwarber tied a major league record by hitting his 13th leadoff home run of the season. Kody Clemens and J.T. Realmuto also homered as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Wednesday, completing a two-game series sweep.
Cristopher Sánchez (10-9) struck out seven in seven innings for the NL East-leading Phillies (83-56), who have now won four games in a row and nine of their last 11.
A day after hitting three home runs, Schwarber connected for his fourth home run in seven at-bats. He drove a 1-0 pitch from right-hander Bowden Francis into the second deck in right field, matching Alfonso Soriano’s record.
“We all know when Kyle gets hot, man, it’s fun to watch,” Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper said. “We’re excited to be able to see that. I love seeing homers and him do that. It’s super impressive.”
The 416-foot shot was Schwarber’s 32nd home run of the season, and he tied Brady Anderson for ninth place with 44 leadoff homers. Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson leads with 81.
“There’s a lot of talk about how he doesn’t steal bases, he doesn’t do this, he doesn’t do that,” manager Rob Thomson said. “But he walks and he slugs.”
Schwarber went 2 for 3. He had a single in the second inning, struck out in the fifth, and was replaced by a pinch runner after walking in the eighth.
“That guy is special,” Francis said of Schwarber. “He’s hot right now. It’s like throwing to Vladdy.”
Harper left the game after being hit on the left elbow by a 92 mph fastball in the first inning. Edmundo Sosa pinch-hit for Harper to start the third inning and took over at third base, with Clemens moving from third to first.
“It was stiffening up a little bit but as of right now he’s fine,” Thomson said. “I think he could have continued on if we really had to.”
