The Philadelphia Phillies were facing elimination from the 2025 MLB playoffs on Wednesday. Entering Game 3 of their National League Division Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers trailing 0-2, they desperately needed a win at Dodger Stadium to keep Red October alive. Thanks to Kyle Schwarber, they got the biggest W of the season, taking down the Dodgers 8-2.
Sporting their throwback powder blues, which everyone agreed was a good decision before the game began, the Phillies got a solid albeit abbreviated two-inning outing from starter Aaron Nola. They also received contributions from Ranger Suárez, Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and J.T. Realmuto to name a few.
But the biggest contribution, no doubt, came from Schwarber who mashed an epic, season-saving home run.
Kyle Schwarber turned Phillies' postseason around with one swing of the bat in Game 3
The Phillies had just gone down 1-0 after Tommy Edman hit a third-inning solo home run on Suárez's first pitch of the game. With anxiety kicking in, Phillies fans were expecting the worst. Instead, Schwarber turned everything around with one mammoth, Schwarber-esque swing of the bat.
Leading off the fourth, the NL home run king absolutely demolished a 2-0 Yoshinobu Yamamoto fastball over the right-field roof at Dodger Stadium. Leaving the bat at 117.4 mph, the majestic homer traveled 455 feet, his fifth career postseason home run of 450 feet or more, per MLB.com's Paul Casella.
HOLY SCHWARBOMB pic.twitter.com/Nn9HPrTCjL
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 9, 2025
Schwarber was mired in an 0-for-22 slump dating back to the regular season. He had been 0-for-8 in the NLDS. With that single swing, Schwarber changed the complexion of the game, and for now, the complexion of the Phillies' postseason. The blast didn't just tie the game, it immediately awakened the other Phillies bats.
The next batter, Bryce Harper, singled and scored on an Alec Bohm single plus a throwing error by center fielder Andy Pages. Bohm then scored the Phillies' third run on a Brandon Marsh sacrifice fly and the Phillies had a 3-1 lead after four frames.
Suárez threw five innings and kept the Dodgers offense at bay. His lone blemish being Edman's home run. The lefty allowed five hits, struck out four and walked one.
The Phillies blew it open in the eighth by beating up on living legend and future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw. They scored five runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks in the inning. J.T. Realmuto tacked on a solo homer. Trea Turner then drove in a pair to make it 6-1 before Schwarber capped the scoring with his second home run, a two-run shot, to make it 8-1.
Now, the attention will shift to Thursday's Game 4, as the Phillies will face another elimination. They'll be sending ace left-hander Cristopher Sánchez to the mound to give themselves the best chance to play at least one more October.