Schwarber's Grand Slam Caps Massive Sixth, Phillies Outlast Astros 11-7
Kyle Schwarber's 408-foot grand slam to right in the sixth inning turned a one-run Philadelphia lead into a five-run cushion the Astros couldn't claw back from. The Phillies scored five runs in that sixth frame alone to put away Houston 11-7 on September 9.
Houston looked like it had this game in hand early. Paredes crushed a 409-foot two-run homer to left center in the third, and by the time Diaz singled home Altuve, the Astros were up 4-0. But the third inning unraveled fast for Houston. Turner singled home Realmuto, then Harper's single to right turned into a two-run gift when right fielder Smith's throwing error let De La Cruz and Turner both score. Arraez followed with a single to center to score Harper, and just like that a four-run lead was gone — tied 4-4 before the inning was even over.
Smith answered in the fourth with a 416-foot shot to center that scored Varsho and pushed Houston back in front 6-4. That swing was the single biggest momentum shift of the night in Houston's favor — Philadelphia's win probability dropped from 49% to 30% on the play. Turner pulled one back with a solo shot to right center in the fifth, but the Astros still led 6-5 heading to the sixth. That's when Philadelphia took over for good. Sosa singled home Arraez to tie it, De La Cruz drew a walk to score Stott and give the Phillies their first lead, and then Schwarber ended the conversation — a 408-foot grand slam to right that scored Sosa, Crawford, and De La Cruz and blew the game open at 11-6. Houston managed one more in the seventh when Paredes singled home Peña, but the final was 11-7.
The story of the night was Philadelphia's ability to manufacture chaos when it mattered. Cristopher Sanchez gave up 10 hits and 6 earned runs in 6.0 innings and still got the win because his offense bailed him out spectacularly. On the Houston side, Hunter Brown struck out 7 in 5.0 innings but allowed 4 earned runs — and the bullpen couldn't hold the fort when the Phillies caught fire in the sixth. Schwarber's 4 RBI on a 1-for-5 night looks like the definition of doing maximum damage with minimum contact. Paredes went 2-for-4 with a homer and 3 RBI in a losing effort, and Smith's two-run blast in the fourth appears to have been the last real moment Houston had a grip on this game.