Categories: 2024 Postgame Recaps

Phillies sweep Blue Jays, Bryce Harper ‘fine’ after early depature

Bryce Harper left Wednesday’s game early. (Allan Dranberg/Icon Sportswire)

Final Score: Phillies 4, Blue Jays 2

Kyle Schwarber led off with his fourth homer in two games, Cristopher Sánchez rebounded from a rough first inning and the Philadelphia Phillies edged out the Toronto Blue Jays in a Wednesday matinee that allowed them to earn a two-game sweep north of the border.

For Schwarber, the homer was essentially a continuation of his tremendous Tuesday night performance, when he launched three home runs in a game for the second time in a month. All of a sudden, Schwarber now has 32 home runs this year, giving him a chance to eclipse 40 for the third time in as many years with the Phillies.

Meanwhile, after giving up two runs in the bottom of the first inning, Sánchez rebounded to turn in a tremendous outing. Across seven frames, Sánchez limited the Blue Jays to six hits and two runs. Having success on the road was a particularly encouraging development considering that the All-Star lefty entered the day with a 5.43 ERA in away starts, as opposed to a 2.24 ERA at home.

Still, the biggest takeaway from the game will be the departure of two-time NL MVP Bryce Harper.

Harper was hit on the left elbow in the bottom of the first inning, and after initially remaining in the game, he was removed for Edmundo Sosa in the top of the third inning. The Phillies announced it as a left elbow contusion, saying he would be further evaluated:

Fortunately for the Phillies, Thomson told MLB.com‘s Todd Zolecki after the game that Harper’s left elbow is “fine.”

“Well, it was stiffening up, so it was more of a precaution,” Thomson said. “I think he could have continued on if we really had to.”

Highlights

Schwarber led the game off with his 13th leadoff homer of the season, tying Alfonso Soriano’s single-season record for leadoff home runs:

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. quickly evened the score up in the home half of the first with an RBI double that plated Daulton Varsho. Alejandro Kirk then traded places with Guerrero, driving him in with a double into the left-center field gap that temporary gave the Blue Jays the lead.

Kody Clemens hit a 368-foot home run in the bottom of the second inning, a two-run shot that put the Phillies back in front:

The Phillies stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the top of the eighth inning, with Tommy Nance getting Nick Castellanos to line out to left field and striking out Bryson Stott.

After a clean bottom of the eighth inning for Jeff Hoffman, J.T. Realmuto led off the top of the ninth inning with an insurance run in the form of a solo shot:

Carlos Estévez struck out Will Wagner with two outs and a runner on in the ninth inning, allowing the Phillies to secure their 83rd win of the season.

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