The Philadelphia Phillies delivered a resounding statement on Sunday, June 22, 2025, outclassing the New York Mets with a 7-1 blowout to secure a series win, capped by two dominant victories that reaffirmed their prowess.
The Phillies, who had lost nine of their previous 11 against the Mets, flipped the script with a vengeance. Friday’s series opener saw an eight-run seventh inning turn a tie into a rout, while Sunday’s finale, initially a pitchers’ duel, exploded in the fourth as Philly batted around, scoring five off Mets lefty David Peterson. Kyle Schwarber kicked off the rally with a 432-foot solo homer, followed by Nick Castellanos’ double and Otto Kemp’s RBI single. The highlight was Edmundo Sosa’s opposite-field three-run shot, a redemptive blast after a tough month (.077 average) and a pickoff mishap. Sosa, 3-for-4 with a single, double, and homer, glowed post-game, saying, “You play for the lead, you play against a division rival, it makes it exciting. We got the win, now we’re leading the division and need to keep working day by day so we can sustain that lead.”
Sosa’s optimism shone through, noting, “I had a feeling this morning… I woke up really optimistic and talked to my wife, we prayed together and I told her I felt optimistic about the day, that I felt I was going to have a great day.” His 5-for-7 lifetime against Peterson earned him the start at second, and he may face Astros lefties Framber Valdez and Colton Gordon next. Manager Rob Thomson’s lineup tweak included rookie Otto Kemp’s first MLB outfield start and Buddy Kennedy at first, a strategy likely to hold until Bryce Harper returns from wrist inflammation. Harper could swing in the cage Tuesday or Wednesday, potentially rejoining in Houston if he progresses.
Jesus Luzardo stole the pitching spotlight, delivering 6⅔ scoreless innings—his second-best start of 2025—earning a standing ovation. Against elite lineups like the Dodgers, Mets, and Cubs, he’s allowed just one earned run in 25⅔ innings. “Ideally you have the same juice for every start but I’d be lying if I said starts like tonight you don’t bring a little extra,” Luzardo admitted. “You know what’s on the line.” He stifled the Mets’ top order—Lindor, Marte, Soto, and Alonso went 1-for-11—retiring nine of his final ten. “Sunday Night Baseball is what you live for, two top teams tied for the division,” he added. “It’ll be fun going into the second half seeing them again. We put up a good fight, it was fun.”
Now 47-31 and a game ahead of the Mets, whom they trailed by 5½ games on June 12, the Phillies head to Houston after a grueling 19-in-20-day stretch. With an off-day Monday, they’ll adjust their rotation—Ranger Suarez Tuesday, Zack Wheeler Wednesday, Cristopher Sanchez Thursday—to counter the Astros’ right-handed lineup. Can Philly sustain this momentum? Stay tuned for the latest updates and trending reactions as the NL East battle intensifies!