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Weekend sports wrap

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The Phillies are suddenly baseball’s hottest team, and a remarkable comeback Sunday has Philadelphia charging toward September with both a playoff berth and the NL East title within reach.

Philadelphia scored six runs with two outs in the ninth inning to erase a 4-0 deficit and beat St. Louis 6-4, extending its winning streak to nine games. Kyle Schwarber supplied the exclamation point, launching a two-run walk-off homer — his MLB-leading 39th — an estimated 459 feet to center field.

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Bryce Harper opened the ninth with a double, but the next two Phillies were retired. J.T. Realmuto then singled and Justin Crawford walked before Edmundo Sosa cleared the bases with a three-run double. Bryan De La Cruz singled home Sosa to tie it, setting the stage for Schwarber.

The Phillies, 73-58, have swept three consecutive series and are firmly in control of a National League wild-card berth. More tantalizingly, they trail Atlanta by just three games in the NL East.

Philadelphia begins a nine-game road trip Monday night in Seattle, with Zack Wheeler scheduled to face the Mariners.

Baltimore remains alive in a crowded American League wild-card chase, although the Orioles missed an opportunity Sunday. Tampa Bay beat Baltimore 3-1, preventing an Orioles sweep. Baltimore had won the first two games of the series, including a dramatic 3-2, 10-inning victory Saturday.

At 63-68, the Orioles are two games behind Texas and Houston, who are tied for the final AL wild-card position. Baltimore gets Monday off before opening a three-game series Tuesday at St. Louis.

Postseason hopes are fading for the other two regional clubs.

Pittsburgh was shut out 4-0 by the Dodgers Sunday, dropping the Pirates to 63-69 and eight games behind San Diego for the final NL wild card. Washington fell 6-2 at Miami, leaving the Nationals 61-71 and 10 games out.

Meanwhile, big-league baseball made its annual visit to Williamsport Sunday night.

Atlanta defeated Milwaukee 4-2 in the MLB Little League Classic at Journey Bank Ballpark. Michael Harris II homered for the Braves, Mauricio Dubón added an RBI double, and Tyler Mahle pitched five strong innings as Atlanta avoided a sweep. ([ajc][3])

Before the game, Braves and Brewers players spent time with Little League World Series participants, signing autographs, exchanging high-fives and even playing ping pong.

Among those enjoying the experience were players from West Chester’s East Side Little League, Pennsylvania’s representative in the tournament. East Side lost its opening game Friday but gets another chance Monday night, facing Phenix City, Alabama, in an elimination game at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

The Little League World Series resumes Monday with the championship games coming next weekend.

And while baseball’s playoff races are heating up, the local sports calendar is about to get much busier.

High school fall sports are preparing to get underway across Adams County and the region. Soccer, field hockey, volleyball, cross country and golf seasons are getting underway, and another sure sign of approaching autumn arrives this week: Friday night lights will soon be switched back on as the high school football season begins.

Source: MLB, Phila Inquirer, LLWS

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