A 6-0 deficit typically indicates a game is lost in Major League Baseball. For the first time since September 23, 2021, the Phillies thought otherwise as they came from behind to defeat the Pirates 11-9 Friday night.
Kyle Schwarber went 3-for-5 with two home runs and five RBIs. His second home run saw him reach 20 on the season, the first player to do so in 2026.
Aaron Nola continued to struggle, allowing six runs in 3 2/3 innings to put the Phillies in the hole early. Eventually, however, Philly managed to overcome the deficit. They tied the game up in the ninth before taking the lead for good in the tenth inning. Josè Alvarado recorded the win while Orion Kerkering notched his first save of the season for the Phillies.
Aaron Nola hasn’t been the same for years now. In 2024, the word on Nola was that he was still a top arm in the league who had a major thorn in his side in the form of home runs he would allow like clockwork every start. The deeper into the 2025 season he went, the more it became clear that the usual home run ball was no longer Nola’s only problem.
Now, nine starts into the 2026 campaign, Nola continues to struggle. The veteran right-hander let the leadoff batter reach base in each of the first three innings, but it was truly the third inning where things fell apart for Nola. A leadoff single to Konnor Griffin followed by a walk to Endy Rodriguez put two runners on base for the Pirates. A successful sacrifice bunt put both runners in scoring position in time for a single into center field from Oneil Cruz, scoring both.
Brandon Lowe then doubled the lead with a two-run home run to right field. The bleeding did not stop there, however, as Marcell Ozuna hit a two-run shot of his own, scoring Bryan Reynolds to give the Pirates a 6-0 lead.
Nola was eventually pulled in the bottom of the fourth after allowing a two-out single to Jared Triolo. His final line on the day stood at 3 2/3 innings pitched with six runs allowed (all earned) on six hits and three walks. Nola’s ERA now stands at 5.91 on the season.
Down by six, Bryce Harper led off the fourth with a single to left field, hoping to spark a rally for the Phillies. Alec Bohm followed Harper’s lead with his own single to left before getting caught in a force out at second on a ground ball from Brandon Marsh. With runners on the corners, Bryson Stott hit a sacrifice fly into center field, scoring Harper. The run would be all the Phillies could manage in the inning, however, as Edmundo Sosa struck out to end the frame.
Garrett Stubbs got hit by a pitch in the top of the fifth, putting a runner on base as the top order came up for the Phillies. With two outs, Kyle Schwarber hit his first home run of the day to make the score 6-3.
Over the next two innings, the Pirates erased the two runs from Schwarber. Lowe hit a solo shot in the fifth while Spencer Horwitz scored from third on an error from Bohm in the sixth.
Down by five runs in the top of the seventh, Trea Turner found himself on base following a fielder’s choice. With two outs, Schwarber stepped up to the plate as the Pirates went to the bullpen. On the first pitch, Schwarber drove the ball into center field, recording his second two-run shot of the day.
With two on the day, Schwarber became the first Major League player this season to hit 20 home runs. He now joins Cy Williams as the only two Phillies to reach 20 home runs in the first 45 games of the season. The pair are two of just eight players to do so in Major League history.
Down to their final three outs, the Phillies had one last chance to close the 8-5 gap. Edmundo Sosa hit a grounder to short, reaching base on an error by Griffin. After a groundout from Justin Crawford, Adolis García stepped up to pinch hit for Stubbs. García worked a full count walk, putting two runners on as the top of the order was due up for the Phillies. Turner slipped a single into right field, loading the bases.
With two home runs already on the day, Schwarber stepped up to the plate. Former Phillies pitcher Gregory Soto took no chances against Schwarber, walking him on four pitches and scoring Sosa.
Harper connected on a slider, driving it into center field. With the bases loaded, Harper was inches away from a grand slam as the ball bounced off the top of the outfield fence. Two runs scored on the play while Schwarber was thrown out at third for the second out of the inning. Harper was given a single on the play, advancing to second on the throw.
Harper would not score in the inning, but the Phillies got what they needed to keep the game alive, tying the game up at 8 a piece.
Brandon Marsh led off the top of the 10th inning with Bohm placed on second base. Marsh hit a double off the wall in right field, scoring Bohm to give the Phillies their first lead of the day.
The Phillies were not done there, however.
Stott reached base on a single into center field, taking a free second base during Rafael Marchán’s at-bat. With two runners in scoring position, Marchán drove a single into center field, breaking an 0-for-17 streak and driving in two runs to put the Phillies up 11-8.
Orion Kerkering pitched a clean tenth inning, allowing the automatic runner to score on a pair of groundouts to third base. He then struck out Endy Rodriguez to close the deal on the comeback for the Phillies.
Claiming victory following a six-run deficit for the first time since 2021, the Phillies now improve to a 22-23 record on the season. The Phillies have not had a .500 record since April 13, when they were 8-8.
The Phillies will look to do so on Saturday afternoon as Cristopher Sánchez (4-2, 2.11 ERA) faces off against Bubba Chandler 1-4, 4.62 ERA). First pitch for the afternoon game is scheduled for 4:05.
