Edmundo Sosa’s Pinch-Hit Ninth-Inning Grand Slam Lifts Phillies to Stunning 5-3 Comeback Win Over Angels

Every time we think we’ve seen the win of the year, the Philadelphia Phillies find a way to one-up themselves, as Friday evening, down to their final out and trailing 3-1 to the Los Angeles Angels, Edmundo Sosa delivered a pinch-hit grand slam to lift the Phillies to a stunning 5-3 comeback victory.

The Phillies need to start this series off strong against Anaheim and try to leave their series loss to Seattle back in Washington. They headed down to Southern California, hoping to get another winning streak started as they continue to chase down the Atlanta Braves for the National League East title.

The first inning was not kind to the Phillies, when Mike Trout and Wade Meckler each scored on wild pitches for two of the Angels’ three runs in that inning. The scoring paused until the fifth when Derek Hill surprised the Angels defense with a bunt single, scoring Alec Bohm to make the game 3-1.

This score held until the top of the ninth, when after a near go-ahead home run from Bryson Stott two batters prior was robbed by Meckler in right, Edmundo Sosa was pinch-hit with the bases loaded. Down to the last out, Sosa hit a go-ahead grand slam, giving the Phillies a 5-3 lead. After a little fireworks in the bottom of the ninth, they closed out the game for the third big comeback victory over the last couple of weeks.

Andrew Painter’s First Inning Woes Continue

The last time that Andrew Painter had a less-than-stellar outing was against the Twins, when he gave up five first-inning runs. In this game, shades of Minnesota were on display as he gave up three runs in the first inning, but unlike any other start, he threw two wild pitches that turned immediately into runs.

However, like in Minnesota, he tightened up and threw the ball well after that. He ended up tossing six innings, striking out six, allowing just the three first-inning runs, and at one point retiring 15 in a row.

The biggest takeaway from this outing is that Painter didn’t have the same confidence in his fastball that he had in his last outing. The first inning has been his nemesis this season; in the first inning this season, Painter has a 10.00 ERA, and the pattern is clear: if he can spot his fastball well in the first inning, he is likely to do well.

The problem comes when he can’t get his fastball over for a strike, because he can’t establish his breaking pitches. When the team gets down early, they tend to push a little more, and the added pressure doesn’t help. It will be imperative for the last month of the season that Painter can get into the groove a little earlier than the first inning.

Sloppy Base Running Costs Phillies

The fifth inning was the Phillies’ best chance to do some damage. They scored one run on the RBI bunt single from Derek Hill, and in the very next at-bat, Kyle Schwarber singled to right with Bryan De La Cruz rounding third aggressively

However, he saw the stop sign late and was already caught in between third and home with Hill right behind him at third. De La Cruz was forced to give himself up, ending the inning. This mistake ran them out of the inning completely, killing all momentum for the offense until the ninth inning.

This is a trend that needs to be addressed; the Phillies’ base running this season has not been good. They have run themselves out of quite a few innings, and it has cost them more than it should for any Major League Baseball team.

As much as I’d like to have Phillies third base coach Anthony Contreras take some of the blame here, this was just indecision on the part of De La Cruz, and this is another fundamental issue that the Phillies have struggled with this season. Mental mistakes like this can’t happen in a pressure-packed situation like games down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Phillies Offense Disappears Until Last Out

With Disneyland being so close, the Phillies were on two very different rides in this game. While Andrew Painter’s first inning was on “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride”, the Phillies offense was on ‘It’s a Small World”. Through eight innings, the Phillies’ lone run came on a bunt base hit off the bat of Hill, as Reid Detmers shut them down for the majority of his outing.

That was until the ninth inning, when Philadelphia had to face fireball closer Ben Joyce. Joyce, one of baseball’s fastest arms, has been good, not great, all year, with a shoulder injury hindering his play this season.

Shoulder injury or not, all game long Joyce was wild, hitting a batter and walking another, putting two runners on for Bryson Stott with just one out. Stott smoked a long fly ball that looked like it was destined to clear the short wall in right-center; however, Wade Meckler made an outstanding leaping catch to rob Stott of the go-ahead home run.

After another walk to load the bases, Kurt Suzuki went to lefty Sammy Peralta to face Brandon Marsh, but Don Mattingly countered with Edmundo Sosa.

Sosa worked into his count and hammered a 1-1 changeup to centerfield, not giving Mike Trout a chance to rob the lead this time, for a go-ahead grand slam. The homer put Philadelphia ahead 5-3, marking the first time a Phillies player hit a two-out, pinch-hit, game-winning grand slam for the Phillies since Ozzie Virgil in 1983.

EDMUNDO FOR THE LEAD!!pic.twitter.com/zk7TJ68AcW

— Philly Sports Reports (@PhlySprtsReprts) August 29, 2026

Following the grand slam, Jonathan Bowlan came on to close the door, securing his second save of the season. Tonight’s game marked an MLB-best 11th loss for the Angels when they led after the eighth inning.

This was the start to the series that the Phillies needed. A win like this can galvanize a team, and with the Braves winning their game, this was a game that the Phillies needed. They will send ace Cristopher Sanchez to the mound to go for the series win in Game 2.

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