Sosa Grand Slam Lifts Phillies 5-3

Edmundo Sosa hit his first career grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-3 on Friday night in Anaheim. The Associated Press recap said Sosa, pinch-hitting, crushed a low changeup from Sammy Peralta 404 feet to center, past Mike Trout. It came two batters after Wade Meckler robbed Bryson Stott of a three-run homer. J.T. Realmuto had walked to load the bases and chase closer Ben Joyce (0-2). Philadelphia is 75-60, per CBS Sports.

NBC Sports Philadelphia said Sosa hit a 1-1 changeup and that it was the Phillies' fourth go-ahead homer with two outs in the ninth this season. The AP called it Philadelphia's first go-ahead grand slam with two outs in the ninth since Shane Victorino in 2009. Interim manager Don Mattingly told NBC Sports Philadelphia, "It's ceasing to amaze me at this point." Sosa, in English, said he was "just going crazy."

How did Edmundo Sosa's grand slam happen?

Joyce hit Alec Bohm, walked Justin Crawford, watched Meckler steal a homer from Stott, then walked Realmuto. Mattingly sent Sosa up for Brandon Marsh against the left-handed Peralta. Sosa had already pictured the at-bat. "I think I anticipated that at-bat," he told NBC Sports Philadelphia. "I started imagining it when Joyce hit Bohmer." The baseball did the rest. Jonathan Bowlan got the ninth for his second save. Mattingly learned during the game that All-Star closer Jhoan Duran was out with a stomach issue.

Alex McFarlane (4-1) pitched a scoreless eighth. Andrew Painter survived a 28-pitch first inning (two wild pitches scored Trout and Meckler) and then retired the next 15 after that mess, the AP wrote. The Angels had three singles all night, one after the first. Reid Detmers gave up one run and eight hits in six innings. The AL-worst Angels lost their fifth straight on another bullpen implosion.

What the Sosa grand slam means

The Phillies moved one game behind the Cubs for the top NL wild-card spot, the AP said. They are 2-2 on a nine-game West Coast trip. Bryce Harper extended his on-base streak to a career-high 30 games with a bunt single in the fourth. Sosa had already supplied a three-run double in last Sunday's 6-4 rally from 4-0 down against St. Louis. Two ninth-inning daggers in a week is a role-player month.

Saturday's starter is All-Star Cristopher Sanchez (16-4, 2.62 ERA) against Ryan Johnson (3-7, 5.75). Friday's other late baseball board on Smacktok was the Paul Goldschmidt 1-0 in the Bronx, with the Sal Stewart RBI mark still sitting from earlier in the week. The search tonight is Sosa grand slam. The answer is 404 feet, two outs, 5-3.

Sosa grand slam FAQ

Did Edmundo Sosa hit a grand slam? Yes. It was his first career grand slam, a pinch-hit, two-out shot in the ninth off Sammy Peralta.

What was the Phillies vs Angels score? Phillies 5, Angels 3 on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, at Angel Stadium.

Who did Sosa pinch-hit for? Brandon Marsh, after J.T. Realmuto walked to load the bases, per the Associated Press and NBC Sports Philadelphia.