Schwarber Hits MLB-Leading 40th HR

Kyle Schwarber hit his MLB-leading 40th home run as Jesus Luzardo struck out nine in seven innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Seattle Mariners 6-0 on Wednesday at T-Mobile Park. The Associated Press recap, carried by ESPN, said Schwarber's three-run shot in the second inning made him the first player this season to reach 40 homers.

The 33-year-old designated hitter had snapped an 0-for-7 slump with a double in the first, then scored on Bryce Harper's two-run homer to left-center. In the second, Bryson Stott doubled, Brandon Marsh reached, and Justin Crawford singled home Stott. Schwarber then drove a Bryan Woo fastball 425 feet into right-center, scoring Marsh and Crawford and making it 6-0. FOX Sports timed the pitch at 98 mph.

How did Kyle Schwarber reach 40 home runs?

Wednesday was Schwarber's fourth 40-homer season with Philadelphia, matching the franchise mark set by Ryan Howard, the AP wrote. MLB.com said it was also the 380th homer of his big league career. FOX Sports added that his 227 homers with the Phillies rank second among a player's first five seasons with a club, behind only Babe Ruth with the New York Yankees.

Philadelphia finished with 10 hits and no errors. Seattle managed two hits. Luzardo (12-5) worked seven innings, allowed one hit, walked three, and did not give up a run. Woo (9-9) lasted four innings and allowed five hits and six earned runs. The Phillies entered 74-60. The Mariners fell to 64-70.

What the Phillies shutout means

The early knockout changed the night. Harper's first-inning homer, Schwarber's double, and the four-run second left Seattle chasing from the first pitch. Luzardo then kept the Mariners off the board long enough that the bullpen only had to protect a six-run lead. CBS Sports listed Harper with two RBI and Crawford with one besides Schwarber's three.

It was the second notable shutout on the Wednesday MLB board. Tampa Bay had already blanked Detroit 3-0 earlier, a result covered in the Peralta Rays-Tigers recap. Philadelphia's version had a cleaner star hook: an MLB home-run lead changing on a 425-foot swing. Houston's Tuesday win over the Yankees, recapped in Yordan Alvarez's night at Yankee Stadium, was a different series. This one was about Schwarber getting to 40 first.

MLB.com noted Schwarber is on pace for 48 homers after last season's career-high 56. That is a pace line, not a result. The sourced fact for Aug. 26 is the 40th homer, the 6-0 final, and Luzardo's seven scoreless innings.

Kyle Schwarber 40th homer FAQ

How many home runs does Kyle Schwarber have? He hit his MLB-leading 40th on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press and MLB.com.

What was the Phillies vs Mariners final score? Philadelphia won 6-0 at T-Mobile Park. Luzardo struck out nine in seven innings.

Did Kyle Schwarber tie a Phillies record? Yes. The AP said this was his fourth 40-homer season with Philadelphia, matching Ryan Howard.