Kyle Schwarber has now hit four home runs in his last four swings. The Philadelphia Phillies slugger took two pitches — a ball and then a strike — before teeing up a 366-foot “Schwarbomb” to right-center field in the bottom of the first inning Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels.
Schwarber rounded the bases for his 31st home run of the season.
His three consecutive dingers two days earlier came during the MLB All-Star Game’s first-ever swing-off.
Both the American League — which forced the thrilling tiebreaker after putting the finishing touches on a multi-inning, six-run comeback in the ninth frame — and the National League sent three players to the plate. Each of those players were given three swings to hit as many home runs as they could in what took on the form of a much quicker Home Run Derby, of course with higher stakes.
The swing-off lineups were predetermined, with the exception of Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers replacing Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez, whose hand was hit by a pitch earlier in the night.
The AL rolled with Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker, Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena and Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda. The NL went with Stowers, Schwarber and New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso.
Alonso didn’t even have to swing once. Schwarber’s three straight homers gave the NL a 4-3 advantage, a lead the AL couldn’t match this time.
“It was interesting,” Schwarber said afterward. “I was a little nervous … I’m just trying to put it in my head: If I can get two here, Pete can finish it off.”
Except Schwarber got three, and then Aranda went 0 for 3 with Alonso on deck, sealing the NL’s fifth All-Star game victory in 28 years.
The 32-year-old Schwarber, a three-time All-Star, earned All-Star Game MVP honors for his heroics. He’s second among all MLB players, behind only Judge, in home runs since 2017.
Schwarber didn’t waste any time adding another long ball to his tally Friday night, blasting one on his first swing of the Phillies’ first game back from the All-Star break.
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