Schwarber Powers Phillies Past Dodgers 8-2 to Avoid NLDS Sweep/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Kyle Schwarber smashed two home runs to lead the Phillies past the Dodgers 8-2 in NLDS Game 3. The victory helped Philadelphia avoid elimination and force a crucial Game 4. Schwarber’s postseason power and Suárez’s solid pitching anchored the dominant win.
Schwarber Homers Lift Phillies in NLDS – Quick Look:
- Schwarber hits two massive home runs to spark offense
- Phillies win 8-2, staying alive in the NLDS
- First Schwarber homer travels 455 feet over pavilion
- 23rd career playoff homer for Schwarber – 3rd most all-time
- Suárez delivers 5 innings, 1 run allowed in relief
- Dodgers’ Kershaw struggles, gives up 5 runs in relief
- Game 4 Thursday: Phillies send Cristopher Sánchez to the mound
- Dodgers lead series 2-1, still one win from advancing
Kyle Schwarber Powers Phillies Past Dodgers 8-2 to Avoid NLDS Sweep
Deep Look
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies kept their postseason hopes alive Wednesday night as Kyle Schwarber smashed two home runs, lifting the team to a dominant 8-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.
Schwarber’s monster performance helped Philadelphia avoid elimination and cut the Dodgers’ series lead to 2-1. The two teams will return to Dodger Stadium for Game 4 on Thursday, with the Phillies looking to even the best-of-five series.
Schwarber’s Blast Ignites the Phillies
Schwarber, who had been 0-for-8 in the series, broke out in a big way with a towering solo homer in the fourth inning that sailed 455 feet over the right-field pavilion — only the second player ever to do so at Dodger Stadium, joining Pittsburgh legend Willie Stargell (1969, 1973).
“It’s ridiculous how far that ball went,” said Phillies shortstop Trea Turner. “Sometimes you’ve got to build momentum off something like that. No better way than the ball leaving the stadium.”
Schwarber later added a second home run — a two-run shot in the eighth — giving him 23 career postseason homers, the most among left-handed hitters and third all-time overall.
“I didn’t even see where it landed,” Schwarber said of his fourth-inning blast. “I was looking in the dugout, trying to get the guys going.”
Phillies Offense Explodes, Backs Strong Pitching
Philadelphia’s offense rattled Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who cruised through the first three innings but collapsed in the fourth:
- Schwarber’s solo homer opened the scoring
- Singles by Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm
- A throwing error by Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages allowed Harper to score
- A sacrifice fly by Brandon Marsh made it 3-1
The Phillies didn’t stop there. They chased Yamamoto in the fifth, then piled on with a five-run eighth inning that included:
- J.T. Realmuto’s solo homer
- Schwarber’s second homer, a two-run shot
- Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw gave up six hits and five runs in relief in what is expected to be his final MLB postseason appearance.
“I was battling command,” said Kershaw, reflecting on his outing. “It’s hard when you’re trying to throw strikes in the postseason to get people out.”
Suárez Anchors Phillies on the Mound
After Aaron Nola opened with two innings, the Phillies turned to Ranger Suárez, who allowed just one run on five hits over five strong innings. He struck out four and walked one, earning high praise from Schwarber and manager Rob Thomson.
“Ranger did a fantastic job,” Schwarber said. “He kept everyone right there for us to eventually crack through and have a big inning.”
Dodgers’ Missed Opportunities
The Dodgers got on the board early thanks to a solo homer by Tommy Edman in the third. But Los Angeles failed to capitalize on several chances, including:
- Runners on first and second in the sixth, erased by Max Muncy’s inning-ending double play
- Three baserunners in the seventh with no runs scored
- Sluggers Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman went 0-for-8 combined with three strikeouts
- Mookie Betts was a rare bright spot, going 2-for-4 with a triple and a single
Despite the loss, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remained optimistic.
“It’s pretty close to being flushed already,” Roberts said. “I feel good with where we’re at.”
Game Stats Snapshot
| Phillies | Dodgers |
|---|---|
| 8 Runs, 12 Hits | 2 Runs, 7 Hits |
| 2 HR (Schwarber 2) | 1 HR (Edman) |
| Suárez: 5 IP, 1 ER | Kershaw: 2 IP, 5 ER |
What’s Next
- Game 4 is set for Thursday night at Dodger Stadium.
- Phillies’ LHP Cristopher Sánchez will start, making his second appearance this series after a solid outing in Game 1.
- The Dodgers counter with RHP Tyler Glasnow, who pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief in Game 1.
Key Takeaways
- Schwarber’s power display rewrote the postseason record books for lefties.
- Kershaw’s postseason struggles may have seen their final chapter.
- Philadelphia’s bats woke up just in time to save their season.
- The series now hinges on Game 4, with all eyes on whether the Phillies can force a decisive Game 5.
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