Kyle Schwarber launches biggest home run of the season after Phillies’ ‘team meeting’

One swing from Kyle Schwarber changed everything for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Fans have been worried for weeks now. Full on panic set in after a horrible weekend in Arizona and Tuesday’s listless 5-0 loss to the Miami Marlins.

The Phillies themselves looked to have reached their breaking point. After losing 16 of 23 since the All-Star break, the team had what they’re not calling a team meeting on Wednesday before the finale of their two-game set with the Marlins.

Kyle Schwarber launches biggest home run of the season after Phillies’ ‘team meeting’

The Phillies clubhouse was reportedly closed for an extra hour on Wednesday afternoon. According to Tim Kelly of Phillies Nation, the clubhouse opened at 4:20 p.m. ET instead of the scheduled 3:10 p.m. ET.

While we can assume what went on behind closed doors was a team meeting, Phillies manager Rob Thomson wouldn’t confirm or deny whether any meeting took place.

“Well, just so you know my policy, I don’t announced meetings,” Thomson said. “What happens in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse, and that’s between us.”

Phillies overcome another poor first inning

Team meeting or no team meeting, the Phillies went out and fell flat on their face to start the game. Starter Tyler Phillips fell behind 3-0 after giving up a three-run home run to Marlins first baseman Jonah Bride in a 27-pitch first inning.

The Phillies scratched and clawed their way to single runs in the second and third to close the gap to 3-2. Phillips promptly let the Marlins open the lead back up with two runs in the top of the fourth.

Enter Kyle Schwarber.

After a Stott single and base hits from J.T. Realmuto and Johan Rojas, the Phillies’ veteran designated hitter came up with two out.

With the Citizens Bank Park crowd apprehensively cheering for something, anything to happen, Schwarber’s at-bat felt like the most important single moment of the season to date.

As it turns out, what happened next might very well turn out to be the biggest hit of the Phillies’ season.

Schwarber launched a 2-1 changeup 376 feet to the opposite field. When his seventh career grand slam landed in the stands, it felt like a weight lifted from the Phillies’ shoulders.

With a 6-5 lead, the vibes had immediately shifted, but the Phillies still needed to get through five innings before everyone would be able to truly relax.

Then the floodgates opened. The Phillies broke it open in the seventh with a three-run rally.

The bullpen performed like the calendar had been flipped back to May. The combination of José Ruiz, Matt Strahm, Jeff Hoffman, José Alvarado and Carlos Estévez tossed 4 2/3 of shutout ball to bring the much-needed victory home.

And just like that, thanks to one Kyle Schwarber swing, it feels like the Phillies are back. Whether they can build on Wednesday’s huge 9-5 win with the Washington Nationals coming to town for four games is another matter.

For now, it’s okay to enjoy the vibes again.