Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber set an MLB single-season record with his 14th leadoff home run in Tuesday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, but was forced out of the game in the fourth inning with left elbow soreness.
In the bottom of the first, Schwarber hit a 1-0 fastball from Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley 437 feet to center field, beating Alfonso Soriano, who hit 13 leadoff home runs for the 2003 New York Yankees, and giving the Phillies a 1-0 lead.
Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber hits his 14th leadoff home run of the season against the Rays, setting a new MLB record.
Schwarber’s 35th home run of the season marked the 45th leadoff home run of his career and the 32nd since joining the Phillies in 2022.
Schwarber appeared as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the third, drew a walk, and appeared to injure his elbow as he dove to first base on a pickoff attempt by Tampa Bay catcher Logan Driscoll.
He was replaced at designated hitter by Buddy Kennedy in the fourth. After the Phillies won 9-4, manager Rob Thompson said Schwarber had hyperextended his left elbow, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Schwarber is expected to play Wednesday, depending on how he feels.
Schwarber, who had a 17-game home run drought and just one home run in 23 games, has been on a tear, hitting seven home runs in his last eight games, three of them in his first at-bat.
Schwarber, 31, leads the Phillies in home runs and RBIs (95).
Schwarber hit leadoff for the Phillies in all 133 games he started this season. He missed 10 days with a groin strain in early July.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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