The Philadelphia Phillies captured their second straight National League East division title Monday night with a thrilling 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in 10 innings at Dodger Stadium. The dramatic win marks the earliest division clinch in franchise history, coming two days sooner than their 2011 championship team.
The Phillies entered the game needing just one victory to secure the division, with their magic number at one. Kyle Schwarber got Philadelphia off to a strong start with a solo home run in the first inning, his 53rd of the season. However, the game turned into a back-and-forth battle that showcased both teams’ offensive capabilities.
Los Angeles built a 3-1 lead heading into the seventh inning before Philadelphia’s lineup came alive. Otto Kemp sparked the rally with a ground-rule double, followed by Bryson Stott’s RBI single. Weston Wilson then delivered the decisive blow with a two-run homer that gave the Phillies a 4-3 advantage.
The drama continued as Mookie Betts tied the game with a home run off Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering in the seventh. Bryce Harper answered back in the eighth inning with a go-ahead homer to put Philadelphia ahead 5-4, but the Dodgers weren’t finished.
Andy Pages stunned the Phillies faithful by homering off closer Jhoan Duran in the ninth inning to force extra innings. The home run was just the second Duran has allowed all season and his first since joining Philadelphia at the trade deadline.
In the 10th inning, J.T. Realmuto delivered the championship-clinching blow with a sacrifice fly that scored Harrison Bader for the winning run. The Phillies’ bullpen held strong in the bottom half, with David Robertson escaping a bases-loaded jam by getting Max Muncy to ground out and end the game.
This division title represents the third time in franchise history that Philadelphia has achieved 90-win seasons in three consecutive years. Manager Rob Thomson becomes just the third manager in team history to win back-to-back division titles, joining Charlie Manuel and Danny Ozark in that exclusive group.
The Phillies have maintained their championship form despite significant injuries to key players, including pitcher Zack Wheeler, who remains on the injured list with a blood clot, and position players Trea Turner and Alec Bohm. Their depth and resilience have been crucial factors in this successful campaign, as evidenced by their 29-14 record since the July trade deadline.