PHILADELPHIA – Although Kyle Schwarber missed the past three games due to a stomach virus, he still found a way to play bass guitar, that is.
At his charity block party this week, Schwarber performed with members of Mt. Joy, showcasing his musical skills on a cover of “Seven Nation Army.”
Now, the Phillies are hoping his next big hit comes on the field.
Schwarber, who leads the majors with 20 home runs, returned as the designated hitter batting second in Friday’s game against Cleveland.
Before this week’s three-game absence against Cincinnati, Schwarber had played in 225 consecutive games.
“I’m never going to break Cal Ripken’s record,” Schwarber said. “But I take pride in being available every day. That’s what matters most in this game always trying to be ready and healthy.”
The Reds won two of three games, cooling off a Phillies team that had been on a roll since interim manager Don Mattingly took over last month. Philadelphia had climbed from 9–19 to 25–23 before dropping the final two games to Cincinnati.
“It’s good to have him back in the lineup and try to get our chemistry right again,” Mattingly said before Friday’s game.
Schwarber said he faced no limitations returning from the illness against Cleveland right-hander Gavin Williams.
“It’s not like I was out there dealing with the runs or anything,” Schwarber joked. “I’ve had this before, just never during the season. I knew what to expect.”
Schwarber had homered nine times in his previous ten games. Reaching 20 homers in his 45th game, he became the second-fastest Phillie to achieve that mark, trailing only Cy Williams, who did it in 44 games in 1923.
“His timing might be off,” Mattingly said. “But he’ll get it back. Once you’ve had enough at-bats in the season, a couple of days off doesn’t really hurt you.”
One bright spot during his absence: Schwarber’s block party raised $443,000 for first responders and their families at Union Transfer in Philadelphia.
And he loved getting back on stage with his guitar.
“Hell yeah—it took me right back to my high school days,” Schwarber said.
Leave a Reply