Phillies clinch National League East in LA, earliest Division Title in franchise history
The Phillies have been around for nearly a century and a half, but they have never clinched the NL East as early as September 15th. That’s exactly what happened Monday night at Dodger Stadium, where The Fightins outlasted the defending champs 6-5 in 10 innings to secure back-to-back division crowns.
This one had everything. Kyle Schwarber blasted his 53rd home run, Bryce Harper answered Mookie Betts with a go-ahead bomb of his own, and JT Realmuto lifted the decisive sac fly in extras.
David Robertson escaped a bases-loaded jam to lock down the champagne. The best team in baseball handled business against one of the few clubs capable of standing in their way.
Kyle Schwarber HR No. 53
Bryce Harper Go-Ahead HR
JT Relamuto Go-Ahead Sac Fly
David Robertson Closer
The Most Dominant Phillies Ever?
Since the start of August, the Phillies have the best record in baseball (29-14). They’ve won 11 of 14 this month. They’re 5½ games ahead of the Dodgers for the No. 2 seed, and they’re doing it despite losing Zack Wheeler for the season, José Alvarado to a PED suspension/forearm injury, and both Turner and Bohm to the IL.
Ranger Suárez, Cristopher Sánchez, and Jesús Luzardo have dominated in Wheeler’s absence with a 9-1 record and a 2.55 ERA in his absence.
Otto Kemp has gone from Triple-A call-up to postseason dark horse. Harrison Bader looks like the steal of the deadline. Everywhere you look, someone is stepping up.
The Window Is Wide Open
This isn’t just about winning a division. It’s about timing. Harper, Schwarber, Realmuto, Turner, Stott, and Marsh make up one of the best cores the Phillies have ever had, but it won’t last forever. Realmuto, Schwarber, and Suárez all hit free agency after the season.
This October feels pivotal, you know, like the kind of run that defines an era.
The heartbreak of the past three years still lingers. The 2022 World Series loss, the 2023 collapse against Arizona, the 2024 embarrassment at the hands of the Mets. Every single one of those failures has been hanging over this group. Now they’ve got the chance to erase it all.
Celebrate, Then Finish the Job
The Phillies didn’t pop bottles when the Giants’ loss clinched them a postseason spot over the weekend. They waited for the division, and they got it.
In a cramped Dodger Stadium clubhouse, Rob Thomson gave his team their moment, Realmuto shouted “Whatever the hell it takes,” and the party started.
HOW MANY MORE JT ?!
Check Out All The Videos From Last Night Here >>
This celebration should feel different. This team didn’t come this far to hang another division banner. They’re not here for hats and t-shirts. They’re here to finish what they started in 2022.
The Phillies are the class of the National League. They just clinched earlier than ever before. Now, with two weeks to tune up and get healthy, the path to a parade down Broad Street has never been clearer.
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