Kyle Schwarber set a new MLB record with his 14th leadoff home run of the season before leaving the game due to an injury. Pinch-hitter Cal Stevenson then hit a two-run double in the eighth inning to break a tie, helping the Philadelphia Phillies defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-4 on Tuesday night.
Trea Turner hit two home runs, each with two runs, and Bryce Harper added four hits as the Phillies (87-58) improved to 29 games over .500, tying their season high.
Schwarber broke the single-season leadoff homer record with his hit on the second pitch from Taj Bradley, sending the ball 437 feet to center field for a 1-0 lead.
He surpassed Alfonso Soriano, who had 13 leadoff homers with the New York Yankees in 2003. Schwarber, the Phillies’ designated hitter, left the game in the fourth inning after he injured his left elbow. He had reached base on a walk in the third inning and seemed to hurt himself diving back into first base on a pickoff attempt.
“I didn’t feel pain or nothing,” Schwarber said. “I kind of extended it and it was weird. I went down (to the batting cage) and took a swing and it didn’t feel good.”
Schwarber received treatment and felt somewhat better after the game. He mentioned that there was no structural damage and that if he could handle the discomfort, he might return to the lineup on Wednesday for the Phillies’ attempt at a series sweep.
Schwarber’s 35th home run of the season was also his 45th leadoff homer of his career, with 32 of those coming since he joined the Phillies in 2022.
Stevenson, who was called up from the minors earlier this month to replace the injured Austin Hays, came in to bat for Johan Rojas with two runners on in the bottom of the eighth inning. He hit a 2-2 changeup from Tampa reliever Edwin Uceta down the right field line to drive in two runs.
“You’re just trying to calm down and stay in the moment,” Stevenson said. “That’s probably the biggest at-bat I’ve had in my career. So, I was just trying to slow the game down and stick to a plan.”
The Phillies added more runs with an RBI single by Buddy Kennedy and Turner’s second homer of the game.
After Harper hit a double, Uceta hit Nick Castellanos on the hip with a pitch, leading to both benches and bullpens clearing as players gathered on the field. Uceta was thrown out of the game.
“I had an overwhelming sense that I was about to get drilled,” Castellanos said. “We all just got a sense of what it was — he was just upset that he got hit around and his ERA went up.”
Uceta claimed he did not hit Castellanos on purpose. He also said he threw a changeup, but according to MLB’s StatCast, it was a 96 mph sinker.
“You’re frustrated and you’re going to throw at somebody,” Castellanos said. “That’s like my 2-year-old throwing a fit because I took away his dessert before he was finished.”
Harper, who hasn’t hit a home run since August 9 and has been homerless at Citizens Bank Park since July 27, appeared to have hit a home run in the fifth inning.
However, the play was overturned on replay because a young fan reached over the railing and caught the ball, causing fan interference.
Harper was credited with a double but was left stranded as Castellanos flew out and Bryson Stott grounded out to end the inning. Harper hit three doubles in one game for the third time in his career and the first time since August 2021.
The third double happened just before Castellanos was hit. Harper was upset that Uceta hit his teammate and marched toward the mound, shouting at the Rays’ pitcher.
Harper avoided a physical confrontation because Uceta did not turn to face him.
“I didn’t want to be a loser and come up behind him,” Harper said. “If he’s going to turn around, then alright, let’s go.”
Turner also hit a home run off Bradley in the third inning, marking his 17th career game with multiple home runs and his third of the season.
