Phillies set multiple franchise records with win over Angels

The Philadelphia Phillies franchise has been around for quite a while, but the current version of the team set a new franchise record with Monday’s win over the Los Angeles Angels. The dramatic ninth-inning 7-5 comeback win was the Phillies’ 20th of the season and pushed their record to 20-11.

While the team’s hot first month — or hot two weeks — of the season is impressive, it’s even more remarkable than you might think. According to John Foley of PHLY Sports, this is the earliest on the calendar that a Phillies team has won its 20th game of the season.

Tuesday's win, on the final day of April, beat the 2011 Phillies team that won its 20th game on May 4 that season. That 2011 squad went on to a 102-60 record and a first-place finish in the NL East before losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Division Series.

The 2024 Phillies got off to a well-documented slow start. After dropping two of three on opening weekend to the division rival Atlanta Braves, the Phils spent the first two weeks of the season fighting to get above the .500 mark. But since April 15, they’ve won 12 of 15 games.

But wait, there's more.

Phillies set multiple franchise records with win over Angels

The 19 April wins are also the most by a Phillies team in the month, according to MLB Network. The 19th victory eclipses the 18 wins by the 2011 ballclub and the 17 wins by the 1993 team.

It’s a refreshing change of pace for fans who have watched their favorite team stumble early in the last couple of seasons. In 2023, the Phillies went 15-14 in April and didn’t find their groove until the second half. In 2022, they went 11-11 in the abbreviated first month of the season and 21-29 through the end of May, a start that cost former manager Joe Girardi his job.

But wait, there's more.

Phillies are the first team to 20 wins in 2024

Tuesday's win made the Phillies the first team to 20 victories this season. That puts them on top of other postseason and World Series contenders like the Braves (19-9), the Los Angeles Dodgers (19-13), the Baltimore Orioles (19-10) and the surprising Cleveland Guardians (19-10).

Unfortunately, despite having more wins, the Phillies still trail the Braves by 0.5 games in the NL East heading into Wednesday's action. There are still five more months of regular-season baseball remaining, and anything can happen. For now, by piling up early wins, the Phillies are giving themselves the best chance to contest the division title this season and end the Braves' reign of terror.