Kyle Schwarber will attempt to set a franchise record by hitting a home run in six consecutive games when the Philadelphia Phillies visit the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.
Schwarber homered in the first inning of Philadelphia’s 2-1 victory over Boston on Tuesday. The slugger has gone deep six times in his last five games to boost his homer total to an MLB-leading 17 for the season.
Schwarber is one of eight Philadelphia players to belt a homer in five straight games, joining Dick Allen (1969), Mike Schmidt (1979), Bobby Abreu (2005), Chase Utley (twice in 2008), Rhys Hoskins (2017), Odubel Herrera (2018) and Trea Turner (2023).
“Our franchise history is pretty historic as well, and when you have some big boppers come through our organization throughout the history of it, it’s really cool to see that. But like I always say, I think it will be cooler when I get to sit back and have a beer whenever I’m retired and look at all the cool things you got to do throughout your career,” Schwarber said. “But, you know, I want to focus on our guys and keep trying to find a way to win baseball games.”
Tuesday’s victory also was Don Mattingly’s 900th win as an MLB manager.
“It feels good, I guess,” Mattingly said. “I didn’t realize it was 900. They told me in the coaches’ room, but a good feeling. Obviously you had to manage a while to get there, so you did something right. Yeah, good feeling.”
Boston, meanwhile, has scored only four runs in its last three games and has failed to score more than one run in a game 11 times this season. The Red Sox are 1-10 in those games.
Tuesday’s loss dropped Boston’s record at Fenway Park to 7-13, the worst home mark of any team in the American League.
“We talked about it last year and pretty much every year that, you know, the best teams here win (and) play well at home,” Boston’s Trevor Story said. “We have to find a way to do that, and just kind of reverse what we got going. Easier said than done, but we’re putting in the work and we’re confident we can do it.
“Like I’ve said about the talent in this room and the belief in the players that we have … so just keep pushing. It doesn’t feel good right now. All we can do is keep working, keep pushing. We’ll figure out a way.”
Right-hander Sonny Gray (3-1, 3.54 ERA) is scheduled to start for Boston on Wednesday. He’s 2-2 with a 4.65 ERA in eight career starts against the Phillies.
Philadelphia rookie right-hander Andrew Painter (1-4, 6.89) will oppose Gray and will face the Red Sox for the first time in his career.
Following Tuesday’s loss, Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said he expects first baseman Willson Contreras to play Wednesday. Contreras left Sunday’s 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay with a right hand contusion after he was hit by a pitch in the first inning. He did not play Tuesday.
Contreras leads Boston in home runs (eight) and RBIs (23).
–Field Level Media
