Kyle Schwarber falls in Home Run Derby heartbreaker, Cardinals’ Jordan Walker wins in bonus time

Kyle Schwarber needed to take a breath.

Schwarber went deep seven times in a nine-swing span in the semifinals of Monday night’s Home Run Derby. With three swings left, he needed to regroup.

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And so, Schwarber did what any slugger in a hometown Derby would. He took a beat and waved to the Phillies fans in sold-out Citizens Bank Park to make more noise.

Schwarber won the round and nearly the Derby. But the Cardinals’ Jordan Walker, who drew cheers from the 43,863 paying customers after each swing that didn’t result in a homer, smashed four homers in a row in bonus time to eke out a 12-11 victory in the finals.

A Derby that started with Bryce Harper stepping into a boxing ring and shaking the ropes ended with Walker holding a trophy after an improbable finish. His final swing results in a Derby-clinching missile to left field.

Schwarber smashed 10 homers in the first round and nine in the second before really finding his power stroke in the finals. He set the pace in the showdown with Walker, who trailed 11-8 before his final flurry.

It marked Schwarber’s third career Derby and second runner-up finish. He came in second to Harper in 2018 in Washington, then Harper’s home ballpark. Four years later, they became teammates with the Phillies.

There would be no rematch this time. Harper hit eight homers in the first round and didn’t advance despite crushing a 482-footer that disappeared beyond the second deck in right field before touching down in Ashburn Alley.

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Legendary announcer (and native Philadelphian) Michael Buffer started the show by bellowing his catchphrase — “Let’s get ready to rumble!” — and introducing the contestants, who met in a boxing ring behind second base.

Take it from there, Bryce.

The last player announced, Harper raised both arms to salute the crowd. Upon reaching the ring, he climbed up and shook the ropes, WWE-style, and shouted, “Let’s go!”

But Harper was also the last player to hit, roughly one hour after the Derby began. The top four sluggers moved on to the semifinals, with Schwarber’s 10 first-round homers standing as the number to beat.

Harper, who enlisted Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel to throw to him, appeared to get into a groove late in the round, with six homers in the span of 11 swings. He crushed one over the center-field batter’s eye and another that disappeared beyond the second deck and landed on Ashburn Alley, estimated at 482 feet.

Ultimately, though, Harper fell short with eight homers.

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Ryan Howard was a three-time All-Star and champion of the 2006 Home Run Derby in his legendary run with the Phillies. With the baseball world coming together in Philadelphia for the 96th All-Star Game, Howard sat down with Phillies Extra to discuss his All-Star memories, his expectations for a Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park, his outlook on the Phillies’ season, Kyle Schwarber’s chances of breaking his single-season franchise mark for homers, and more. Watch here.

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Previous episodes: Dan Baker | Ricky Bottalico | Preston Mattingly | Caleb Cotham | Larry Bowa | Joe Maddon | Rhys Hoskins | Terry Francona | Aaron Rowand

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