The Philadelphia Phillies won their fifth straight game last night, improving to a season-high 16 games over .500 at 74-58. 

The story of August for the Phillies has been the power surge of home runs throughout the month. Last night was no different as The Fightins belted 5 homers to beat the Los Angeles Angels 12-7. 

Phillies Smash 5 Home Runs vs Angels 

• Bryce Harper: 2-4, HR, BB, 2 R 
• Kyle Schwarber: 1-4, HR, BB, R 
• Alec Bohm: 2-3, HR, 3 RBI, BB, 2 R
• Bryson Stott: 2-2, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R 
• Trea Turner: 2-5, HR, 3 RBI, BB, 2 R 

Michael Lorenzen was on the mound for the Phillies and pitched six solid innings, allowing eight hits, four runs (three earned) and two walks while striking out five. 

Luis Rengifo got the Angels on the board first with a solo home run in the top of the second inning. Then of course, Bryce Harper stepped up to the plate in the bottom half of the inning and continued his scorching hot month of August with a solo home run to tie the game 1-1. 

Bryce Harper Game-Tying Solo Home Run

There’s really not much else to say about Harper that hasn’t been said pretty much after every game this month but here’s a quick breakdown for you yet again because, well, it’s awesome to look at. 

Bryce Harper Heat Check 🔥

• Last 7 Games: .520 BA, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 5 BB, 13 H, 8 R
• Last 15 Games: .400 BA, 7 HR, 15 RBI, 10 BB, 22 H, 15 R
• Last 30 Games: .336 BA, 9 HR, 24 RBI, 17 BB, 38 H, 23 R
• August: .366 BA, 9 HR, 22 RBI, 1.229 OPS
• Season: .309 BA, 14 HR, 53 RBI, 7 SB, 65 R, 366 AB

Also worth noting, with last night’s homer Bryce Harper is at career No. 299. Pretty cool milestone incoming and don’t be surprised if that happens today in the series finale at 1:35PM.

The Angels would retake the lead on a throwing error by Michael Lorenzen in the top of the third inning, but the Phillies would immediately respond in the bottom half of the inning on a Kyle Schwarber solo shot to tie the game 2-2. 

Kyle Schwarber Solo Home Run

Luis Rengifo would hit his second home run of the game in the top of the fourth inning and Shohei Ohtani would add an RBI single in the top of the fifth inning to give the Angels a 4-2 lead. 

In the fifth, after Harper already went yard and notched a double earlier in the game, the Angels opted to intentionally walk him with Nick Castellanos already on second base. 

Big mistake. 

Alec Bohm made the Angels pay by crushing a 3-run home run to give the Phillies a 5-4 lead. 

Alec Bohm Go Ahead 3-Run Home Run

From there, the flood gates were open.

JT Realmuto followed with a double and then scored on a safety squeeze from Johan Rojas. Two batters later, Trea Turner skipped a ball down the third baseline for a two-run triple. 

In the seventh inning, the Phillies added three more runs thanks to a Bohm double and JT Realmuto single. Bryson Stott then hit a 2-run home run. 

Bryson Stott 2-Run Home Run 

Trea Turner added a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the eighth inning, marking the Phillies fifth home run on the night. 

Home Run City

The Phillies have now hit 57 home runs in the month of August, the third-most by any team in a month this season after the Tampa Bay Rays (61 in April) and the Atlanta Braves (61 in June). 

With 57 home runs, the Phillies have tied the 2020 Dodgers for the most homers hit by a team in August in National League History. It’s also a personal franchise record. 

Phillies August Home Run Leaderboard

• 10: Schwarber
• 9: Harper
• 8: Turner
• 8: Castellanos
• 5: Bohm
• 5: Stott

The Hunt for Red October

There are 30 games left in the 2023 MLB regular season. The Phillies will play teams with a current record of .500 or worse in 20 of those 30 games.

In the NL Wild Card, the Phillies continue to distance themselves from the pack and now hold a 5-game lead over the San Francisco Giants in third and 4-game lead over the Chicago Cubs in second.

Cristopher Sanchez (2-3, 3.33 ERA) will take the mound against Reid Detmers (3-10, 5.03 ERA) looking for the Phillies second consecutive series sweep at 1:35PM.

Join The Chase