Phillies walk off Twins in extra innings in regular-season finale

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies’ 2025 regular season came to an end on Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park with a 2-1, walk-off win over the Twins in 10 innings. The win cemented the Phillies (96-66) their first season with at least 96 wins since 2011.

After Max Kepler tied the game at one on a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth, the Phillies went down in order in the ninth to send the game to extras. And after Orion Kerkering pitched a scoreless top of the 10th with three strikeouts, a Nick Castellanos sacrifice fly walked things off in the bottom of the 10th. It was the Phillies’ fifth walk-off win of the season.

Starting pitcher Cristopher Sánchez fired 5 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. He allowed just two hits with eight strikeouts and no walks. The left-hander left the mound to a standing ovation from the 42,637 fans in attendance after striking out nine-hole hitter James Outman. As he walked off the field, Sánchez took the moment in and spun around, acknowledging every fan in attendance. He tipped his cap and touched his heart before heading down the dugout steps.

Sánchez’s efforts this season put him at the top of the NL Cy Young Award discussion. He concludes 2025 with a 2.50 ERA in a career-high 202 innings with a career-high 212 strikeouts. Sánchez entered Sunday, and finished the season, second in wins above replacement among pitchers in the NL, per FanGraphs. His next start will come Saturday in Game 1 of the NLDS.

Elsewhere, Trea Turner returned to play after being activated from the injured list. He batted leadoff and went 0-for-2. Turner played five innings on defense before being removed from the game. In batting .304 on the year, Turner won the NL batting title. He’s the first Phillie to do so since Richie Ashburn in 1958.

Also going hitless was NL MVP candidate Kyle Schwarber, whose home run total finished at 56 — two shy of tying Ryan Howard’s single-season franchise record of 58.

Up next is a five-day layoff for the Phillies filled with a couple of workouts, an intra-squad game on Wednesday and waiting to find out who they’ll play in the NLDS. Their opponent will be the winner of the Wild Card Series between the Dodgers and either the Reds or Mets.