Forty-four, and the loudest one yet
Bases loaded, sixth inning, AJ Blubaugh on the mound. Kyle Schwarber did not need a second invitation. The ball was gone in a hurry and his season total moved to 44 home runs, more than any other hitter in the majors this year.
His 41st came against Atlanta earlier this month. Three more have followed since, and the grand slam on Wednesday night was the one that decided a game. It capped a six-run inning and turned a scrappy evening into an 11-7 Philadelphia win over the Astros.
Bryce Harper and Trea Turner drove in two runs apiece. Neither had to do more than that. Once Schwarber cleared the bases, Houston spent the rest of the night chasing a deficit they had built for themselves.
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Houston led 4-0 and gave it back
The visitors started the better side. Four runs early, a grip on the game, and then nothing that held. Bryan King came out of the bullpen and was charged with four runs, three of them earned, without recording a single out. He falls to 2-5.
Blubaugh followed him and found Schwarber with the bases full. Isaac Paredes and Cam Smith both went deep for Houston, which kept the final score respectable, but the AL West leaders lost the middle innings and never won them back.
Seven runs on the road is usually enough. Not on this occasion.
Sanchez wins ugly, and keeps counting
Cristopher Sanchez was nowhere near his best. Six runs and 10 hits across six innings is a line he will want to forget. He still took the decision, his 17th win against five defeats, because the men behind him kept handing back the runs he conceded.
Philadelphia sit at 3-3 through six games of a seven-game homestand. The Astros close their series in the same ballpark.
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