They say winning has a way of bringing a team together, and Philadelphia Phillies infielder Edmundo Sosa is seeing that chemistry grow stronger than ever. After the Phillies pulled off a dramatic comeback victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, Sosa made it clear that he believes this clubhouse is closer than it has ever been.
Sosa has been part of the Phillies organization since arriving ahead of the 2022 trade deadline, the same season Philadelphia made its memorable run to the World Series. Given everything the team has experienced since then, his comments carry plenty of weight.
The Phillies have faced significant challenges throughout the 2026 season. Their difficult 9-19 start resulted in manager Rob Thomson losing his job, and the team struggled to meet the expectations placed on a roster widely viewed as one of the National League’s elite contenders.
“I think we’re the closest ever,” Sosa said during an interview with 94 WIP’s Dave Uram through interpreter Diego D’Aniello. “I truly believe any player can do what we did tonight.”
However, Philadelphia has repeatedly responded when adversity hit. With just over a month remaining in the regular season, the Phillies have started to look like the powerhouse many expected them to be before the season began.
“This is close to the end of the season, close to the finish line,” Sosa said. “I think as a clubhouse, as a team, we’re the closest ever.”
Edmundo Sosa Delivers Huge Ninth-Inning Moment for Phillies
Sosa played a crucial role in Philadelphia’s stunning comeback against St. Louis, delivering the first major blow during a dramatic ninth inning.
With the Phillies trailing 4-0 and facing Cardinals All-Star closer Riley O’Brien, Sosa stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. The matchup was anything but easy, as O’Brien possesses overpowering stuff, including fastballs that can reach triple digits and devastating sliders.
The opportunity came after Bryce Harper opened the inning with a double, J.T. Realmuto followed with a single, and Justin Crawford drew a two-out walk to load the bases.
Sosa admitted that the confidence from his teammates helped him stay composed in the biggest moment.
“When I got to the plate, I kind of looked back at Harp,” Sosa said. “He just looked at me in a way that said, ‘You got this.’ Then I started looking at the rest of the guys in the dugout, and they had that same look, trusting me. If they can trust me with that look, why can’t I trust myself?”
Sosa rewarded that belief by ripping a 91.4 mph ground ball into the left-field corner, clearing the bases and instantly changing the game. A four-run deficit became a one-run game, with Philadelphia suddenly believing a comeback was possible.
The moment was even more meaningful considering Sosa was originally acquired from the Cardinals in 2022. Against his former organization, he delivered one of the biggest hits of the Phillies’ season.
Kyle Schwarber Finishes Phillies’ Incredible Comeback
The Phillies’ ninth-inning rally continued when Bryan De La Cruz came through with another clutch at-bat. After battling through an eight-pitch showdown against O’Brien, De La Cruz lined a single through the left side to bring home Sosa and tie the game.
That set the stage for Philadelphia’s biggest stars.
Kyle Schwarber stepped up and delivered the knockout punch, launching a sinker over the center-field wall for a walk-off home run that completed the comeback.
It marked the first walk-off homer by a Phillies player since June 2023, when Schwarber also provided the winning blast. The victory extended Philadelphia’s winning streak to nine games and pushed the team’s record to 74-58.
Now firmly back in contention, the Phillies are closing the gap in the National League East and proving that the adversity they faced earlier in the year may have only strengthened their clubhouse.