Schwarber ties MLB record for leadoff HRs in a season
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TORONTO -- J.T. Realmuto once said that Kyle Schwarber is a scary at-bat to start a game, because one mistake and it’s 1-0.
It happened again on Wednesday afternoon at Rogers Centre.
• Most career leadoff home runs in MLB history
Schwarber crushed a 1-0 fastball to right field for a leadoff homer in a 4-2 victory over the Blue Jays. It was his second leadoff homer in two games against the Blue Jays, but also the 13th leadoff homer of the season, which ties an MLB record. Alfonso Soriano hit 13 leadoff homers for the 2003 Yankees.
Kody Clemens and Realmuto also homered on Wednesday, while Cristopher Sánchez pitched seven solid innings, carrying the Phils to a two-game sweep.
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“I’ve always said that those things will be cooler when I’m done,” Schwarber said about tying Soriano. “Right now I’m just trying to win baseball games. Winning a baseball game is cooler than that.”
Schwarber has 44 leadoff homers in his career, which is tied for ninth all-time. He hit three homers in Tuesday night’s 10-9 comeback victory, and has 32 home runs and 89 RBIs on the season.
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Schwarber played left field on Wednesday, getting Nick Castellanos off his feet after Castellanos was hit on his left leg by a pitch on Tuesday. He made a few plays, and he also dealt with a Blue Jays fan who kept chanting his name and telling him how terrible he is.
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Schwarber heard every word.
“Oh, it was awesome,” he said, laughing.
Schwarber went 7-for-9 with one double, four home runs, seven RBIs, one walk and a 3.022 OPS in the Blue Jays series.
“It kind of snowballs for him,” Bryce Harper said. “We all know that when Kyle gets hot, it’s fun to watch. We’re excited to see that. I love seeing homers. Super impressive being able to do that.”
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And he’s doing it from the leadoff spot.
“There’s a lot of talk about how he doesn’t steal bases, he doesn’t do that,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “But he walks and he slugs. And our lineup is so long that the second time he comes up, usually there’s people on base. And that’s where he gets his RBIs. He’s only leading off one time a game.”
Thomson got questions for almost two years about Schwarber leading off. He hasn’t gotten any in months.
“Maybe they’re tired of me saying it’s not going to change, so why ask the question?” Thomson said, smiling.