Schwarber Powers Phillies Past Diamondbacks With Two Home Runs

PHILADELPHIA — José Castillo hadn’t pitched in the major leagues since 2023 before he took the mound for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the seventh inning on Friday evening. Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber welcomed him back with a powerful hit, sending the first pitch he saw 398 feet to right-center for a game-tying home run.

Just two batters later, Max Kepler followed suit, hitting almost the same spot and putting the Phillies ahead for a 3-2 win over the Diamondbacks. “Haven’t faced the guy, and trying to get the information for what his ball’s going to play like,” Schwarber said. “I was able to put a good swing on it.”

Both home runs were notable instances of left-handed hitters facing a left-handed pitcher. Castillo had been called up from the minors just a day prior. “It just gets a little harder when you don’t get to see them as routinely as you do the righties,” Kepler explained after recording his first hit off a lefty since April 19.

The Phillies’ bullpen, which had struggled earlier in the season, shut down the Diamondbacks effectively to secure the win. Pitchers Matt Strahm, Tanner Banks, and Jordan Romano combined to ensure Arizona didn’t score at all in the latter innings.

The bullpen is now riding an impressive 11-inning scoreless streak dating back to Wednesday. “Maybe they’re finding out about themselves… they’re getting the proper rest right now,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson noted.

In the ninth inning, José Alvarado came in to secure the win and was aided by a stunning catch from center fielder Johan Rojas, who made a running catch on a fly ball from Lourdes Gurriel Jr. despite colliding with the wall. Rojas later told reporters, “I just said, ‘You have to run, and just go get it.’”

Before the home runs, the game had been low-scoring. The Phillies scored first in the opening inning with a single and a long hit by Schwarber. However, they faced challenges against Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly. Of the seven balls hit harder than 95 mph by the Phillies, only three resulted in hits.

The Diamondbacks had their share of chances, putting runners on base against Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo throughout the game but only managed to score one run against him early on. Luzardo struck out six batters during his outing but struggled with his pitch count.

“I feel like a couple years back… I would have just gone three or four innings and given up a lot more runs,” Luzardo reflected. He pushed through to earn the win.