PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto hit home runs and Aaron Nola struck out seven times to help the Philadelphia Phillies win their first NL East title since 2011 with a 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.
Carlos Estévez knocked out Michael Busch with a fly ball and the Phillies swarmed each other in excitement in the infield. The Phillie Phanatic stormed the celebration, waving a 2024 flag as fans stood and filmed it all.
“I think a lot of guys looked around and saw them cheering and getting excited and getting on their feet,” said hitter Bryce Harper. “It was just cool to see. Hopefully we can do that a lot more.”
With a place in the postseason already pinched Last week, the Phillies won their 12th division championship – and are aiming for first place and home-field advantage in the National League playoffs.
“We have to get the bye, it’s pretty important for us. Really important for us,” said manager Rob Thomson. “Whether you’re division champions or not, I don’t think that gives you any advantage. I think the home field advantage and the bye will help us a lot.”
Philadelphia won the NL East title five times in a row from 2007 to 2011, but then went ten years without making the playoffs. The Phillies have been wild-card entrants in the last two playoffs and made two consecutive runs in October that ended in a bitter end.
They lost the 2022 World Series to Houston and blew series leads of 2-0 and 3-2 when they lost the NL Championship Series to Arizona last season.
This is the third time the Phillies have reached the postseason three years in a row (1976-78 and 2007-11). Philadelphia’s only World Series championships came in 1980 and 2008.
“We just have to play Philly baseball and keep playing,” Harper said.
Nola (13-8) allowed two runs in six innings and received a standing ovation when he was replaced by Matt Strahm.
Since 2022, Nola has started seven games in which the Phillies have clinched either a postseason berth, a postseason series, or a division title. In those games, he has posted a 1.62 ERA with 46 strikeouts against seven walks.
Realmuto hit a two-run shot in the second inning and Schwarber added a solo home run in the third, leading to a 3-0 lead. Schwarber’s 37th of the season gave him 100 RBIs. Nick Castellanos also had an RBI single in the third inning.
Schwarber is the third Phillies player since 1920 with 100 runs, 100 RBIs and 100 walks in two consecutive seasons. Bobby Abreu (2004-05) and Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt (1976-77) are the others.
Cubs relief pitcher Caleb Kilian (0-1) suffered a loss in a bullpen game.
TRAINING ROOM
Cubs: RHP Enoli Paredes was claimed off waivers by Milwaukee. Paredes, who turns 29 on Saturday, went 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA and one save in 17 relief appearances with the Brewers. He struggled with a right forearm problem earlier this season that kept him on the injured list for more than two months.
Phillies: OF Austin Hays could return before Tuesday’s game after being on the injured list because of a kidney infection. … RHP Spencer Turnbull pitched two innings in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday.
Next
The Cubs send LHP Justin Steele (5-5, 3.03 ERA) to the mound. The Phillies had not yet announced a starter for Tuesday’s game.
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APMLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
