They say nothing brings a team closer than winning. Philadelphia Phillies infielder Edmundo Sosa certainly believes that. Following their epic comeback against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sosa said this about his team.
“I think we’re the closest ever,” Sosa told 94 WIP’s Dave Uram, through interpreter Diego D’Aniello. “I truly believe any player can do what we did tonight.”
Sosa is now in his fifth season in Philadelphia. He joined the team ahead of the 2022 trade deadline, as they made a World Series run that postseason. Considering what most of that group has gone through over that time, that’s a bold statement.
The Phillies have dealt with a lot of adversity this year. A 9-19 start led to Rob Thomson’s dismissal as manager. A lot of things have gone wrong for a team many expected to be a top contender in the National League.
But at the same time, it’s a team that’s shone through that adversity when it’s needed to. With five weeks left in the season, the Phillies now resemble the team everyone expected them to be.
“This is close to the end of the season, close to the finish line. I think as a clubhouse, as a team, we’re the closest ever.”
Phillies’ Edmundo Sosa on Big Ninth-Inning Knock
GettyEdmundo Sosa’s three-run double started the Phillies’ big comeback against the Cardinals. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Edmundo Sosa had the first big hit to get the Phillies on the scoreboard. Facing Cardinals All-Star closer Riley O’Brien with the bases loaded, which is not an easy feat for any right-handed hitter. O’Brien features two fastballs that can reach in excess of 100 MPH and two different sliders.
Three hitters stepped up to give Sosa that opportunity. Bryce Harper doubled to lead off the frame. J.T. Realmuto singled and Justin Crawford walked with two outs to load the bases.
“When I got to the plate, I kind of looked back at Harp,” said Sosa. “He just looked at me in a way that (said) you got this. And then I started looking at the rest of the guys at the dugout as well, and they had that same look, trusting me. If they can trust me with that look, why can’t I trust myself?”
Sosa took advantage of that opportunity. He hit a 91.4 MPH grounder that made its way into the left field corner to clear the bases. What was a 4-0 deficit with two outs suddenly became a 4-3 game.
And for Sosa, that had to feel extra special. The Cardinals traded him to the Phillies back in 2022.
Phillies Complete Ninth-Inning Comeback on Kyle Schwarber Walk-Off Blast
GettyKyle Schwarber ended a three-year drought of walk-off home runs against the Cardinals. (Photo by Bill Streicher/Getty Images)
Another unlikely hero in the inning was Bryan De La Cruz, who didn’t make his Phillies debut until July. De La Cruz grinded through an eight-pitch at-bat against Riley O’Brien, working back to a 2-2 count, before singling through the left side to plate Sosa and tie the game.
That turned the lineup over for the big bats. Kyle Schwarber took care of the rest, blasting a sinker at the top of the zone off the batter’s eye in center field to complete the comeback.
It marked the first walkoff home run by a Phillies hitter since June 9, 2023, also hit by Schwarber. By the time the ball landed, the Phillies’ win streak grew to nine games. They sit at 74-58 and within shouting distance of the Atlanta Braves for the National League East lead.
Phillies’ Edmundo Sosa Makes Bold Statement After Cardinals Series Sweep