The Phillies have turned a late-summer surge into something bigger than a hot streak, and the organization is moving fast to meet the moment. After Kyle Schwarber’s walk-off two-run homer on Aug. 23 finished off a six-run ninth inning and pushed Philadelphia to its ninth straight win, the club has found itself back in the thick of the NL East race, sitting three games behind the Atlanta Braves.
That turnaround has given the fan base plenty to grab onto. Schwarber has delivered the signature moments, but the rest of the lineup is starting to join in, and the starting rotation has helped keep the whole thing from slipping away. After what once looked like a lost season, belief is back around this team.
Citizens Bank Park felt that energy over the weekend during the sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, and now the Phillies are trying to keep that momentum rolling while the team heads west for a nine-game road trip. Instead of leaving fans to follow along from home, the club is opening the doors for a watch party on Sunday, Aug. 30, when the Phillies face the Los Angeles Angels.
The setup is as appealing as it sounds: tickets are $5, parking is free, and the game will be shown in the Cadillac Hall of Fame Club. The Phillies also said there will be guest appearances for fans to watch the game with on the scoreboard, though the team hasn’t said who those guests will be yet.
It’s a unique move for a regular-season road game, and it gives the organization a chance to gauge just how much appetite there is for an event like this. If the turnout is strong while the Phillies are on a run like this, it’s not hard to imagine the team looking at the idea again if October brings postseason baseball.
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Kyle Schwarber has been part of that adjustment, getting time at first base while Bryce Harper has handled designated hitter duties, a reminder that the Phillies are willing to keep moving pieces around if it helps them stay in the race. Spencer Painter also offered a welcome sign by getting through seven innings without any reported issues, which only adds to the sense that Philadelphia is trying to line up its best version for the final stretch, even if the exact shape of that plan is still taking form. [Read more 🡒]