Bryce Harper exits early in Phillies sweep over Blue Jays
Sep 4, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) reacts after getting hit with a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Kyle Schwarber was coming off a five-hit, three-home-run game on Tuesday night. He led off, as usual, on Wednesday, and hit his fourth homer in roughly 20 hours. It was Schwarber’s 13th leadoff home run this season, tying Alfonso Soriano’s major league record, set in 2003.
The Phillies also got a nice rebound from Cristopher Sanchez, who pitched them to a 4-2 lead over the Blue Jays, finishing off the two-game sweep. Their magic number to clinch the division is now 17.
Sanchez got off to a rough start in the first, allowing RBI doubles to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk. But after that, he dialed in. Over seven innings and 96 pitches, he allowed six hits, those two earned runs, and walked none with seven strikeouts. Sanchez typically struggles on the road, so having a solid start away from Philadelphia was very encouraging.
The Phillies are now 32-1 when their starter goes at least seven innings. That one loss came on Opening Day.
The Phils also got homers from Kody Clemens, who gave them the lead in the second, and J.T. Realmuto, who provided insurance in the ninth.
But the biggest story from the Phillies’ win Wednesday afternoon in Toronto was Bryce Harper.
Harper was hit on the left elbow in the bottom of the first inning, and after originally staying in the game, he was removed for Edmundo Sosa in the top of the third inning. The Phillies announced it was a left elbow contusion and he will be further evaluated.
His right elbow has been bothering him to begin with, but now this one is the left.
UPDATE: Rob Thomson on Harper postgame: “He’s fine. [The elbow] was stiffening up. So it was more precautionary. I think he could have continued on if we really had to.” Everyone exhale.
But, the Phillies swept the series at the Rogers Centre. They have not won a series in that stadium since 2011. They now head down south to Miami for a four-game series with the Marlins.
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