Philadelphia Phillies Secure Second Straight NL East Crown

2 hours ago

5339 posts

Philadelphia Phillies Secure Second Straight NL East Crown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Philadelphia Phillies clinched their second straight NL East title with a 6-5, 10-inning victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber fueled a late-game rally and postgame clubhouse celebration. With the win, the Phillies secured the earliest division crown in franchise history, setting their sights on another World Series run.

Members of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate after they clinched the NL East following their defeat of the Los Angeles Dodgers in a baseball game Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Philadelphia Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber, left, hits a solo home run as Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Anthony Banda, second from left, and catcher Chuckie Robinson watch during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Phillies Clinch NL East: Quick Looks

Clinched: Phillies win NL East title with 6-5 extra-inning victory over Dodgers.
Celebration: Bryce Harper drenched in champagne; Kyle Schwarber drank beer from a hose.
Earliest Ever: Clinched in Game 151, beating franchise record set in 2011.
Season Record: Now 90-61 with three straight 90-win seasons.
Key Homers: Schwarber (53rd), Weston Wilson, and Harper homered in comeback rally.
Pitching Depth: Absorbed loss of ace Zack Wheeler thanks to trade-deadline additions.
Injuries: Trea Turner and Alec Bohm sidelined but nearing return.
Manager Milestone: Rob Thomson joins select Phillies managers with back-to-back titles.
Playoff Picture: Ninth win in 11 games opens 12.5-game lead over Mets.

Philadelphia Phillies’ Harrison Bader, left, and Brandon Marsh celebrate after the Phillies clinched the NL East following their defeat of the Los Angeles Dodgers in a baseball game Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Deep Look: Phillies Clinch NL East Title with 10-Inning Win

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies turned Dodger Stadium into their own party zone Monday night, clinching their second consecutive NL East title with a 6-5 victory in 10 innings over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Bryce Harper stripped to his waist and poured champagne over his head, while Kyle Schwarber chugged beer from a hose in the visitors’ clubhouse. The scene marked both a celebration of what they’ve achieved and a reminder of the bigger goal ahead: a third World Series title in franchise history.

“You’ve got to enjoy this,” Schwarber said, cigar in hand. “This doesn’t happen all the time.”

Rally in Hollywood

The Phillies entered the night needing a win to lock up the division, with the second-place New York Mets idle. They managed just one hit through six innings — Schwarber’s 53rd home run of the season — before exploding late.

In the seventh inning, Weston Wilson and Harper went deep, sparking a comeback against the defending World Series champions. Still, the Dodgers kept clawing back, tying the game three times before Philadelphia finally pushed across the winning run in extra innings.

When Max Muncy grounded out to end the game, Phillies players mobbed the mound, posed for pictures, and saluted red-clad fans who had packed Dodger Stadium.

“This is a really special group,” said manager Rob Thomson. “They’re resilient, they fight, and I couldn’t be more proud.”

Historic Clinch

With the victory, the Phillies (90-61) opened a 12.5-game lead over the Mets with 11 games left, securing the earliest division title in club history. The 2011 Phillies had clinched on Sept. 17 in Game 150. This squad sealed the deal just one day later.

Philadelphia now has three straight 90-win seasons for only the third time in franchise history, riding a hot stretch of 29-14 since the July 31 trade deadline.

“This is how you win big baseball games,” Schwarber said. “Guys stepped up when we had injuries, and we kept that next-man-up mentality.”

Overcoming Injuries

The Phillies have battled adversity all season. Ace Zack Wheeler, who was 10-5 with a 2.71 ERA, has been out for a month with a blood clot. Trea Turner (hamstring) and Alec Bohm (shoulder) are both sidelined but could return before the playoffs.

Depth moves at the trade deadline, including the acquisitions of closer Jhoan Duran and center fielder Harrison Bader, have bolstered the roster.

“We can slug, but we can also play small ball,” Thomson said. “It’s a good balance and makes us dangerous in October.”

Managerial Milestones

Thomson became just the third Phillies manager to win back-to-back division titles, joining Charlie Manuel (2007–11) and Danny Ozark (1976–78). He’s also now one of only four managers in MLB history to reach the postseason in each of his first four full seasons.

“At 62, I don’t feel old right now,” Thomson joked. “These last four years have been the most fun I’ve had in baseball.”

October on Their Minds

The Phillies secured their playoff berth on Sunday when the San Francisco Giants lost, but clinching the East means avoiding the chaos of the wild-card round.

Now, with Harper healthy, Schwarber swinging for history, and reinforcements on the horizon, Philadelphia has its sights set squarely on another run to the World Series.

“We’ve got things on our mind that we want to win,” Harper said. “This is just the first step.”