PHILADELPHIA — The first cheers arrived as Kyle Schwarber stepped to the plate for a batting practice round about two hours before he took any meaningful swings in the Home Run Derby.The evening unfurled from there, a breeze settling into Citizens Bank Park, which sparkled with light-up bracelets dotting the arms of powder blue-clad fans screaming their hearts out. There is some level of catharsis with any Schwarber home run in South Philly, but what took place on Monday topped it all.That was until the final four swings from Jordan Walker transformed a raucous, booing Citizens Bank Park into a churchyard. But the discontent and disbelief that flooded the ballpark after Walker’s 12th home run in the derby finale did not trickle down to Schwarber and his Phillies teammates on the field.“I felt great about it at the end of the night,” Schwarber said. “I mean, I left it all out there. Do I wish I was able to hit another or two there at the end? Sure. But I was proud of the way I was able to go out there and put it out there for these guys and for the fans. At the end of the day, it was whatever happens, happens.”Perhaps the crowd filling the ballpark disagrees with that sentiment. But the point stands: It was a damn good time until it wasn’t.Schwarber started his first two rounds slowly, even making five straight outs to start the first. But he advanced, then advanced again to the final — the roar growing with each home run sent into the right-field stands.Jordan Walker's family relished the boos during his Home Run Derby winJohnny Flores Jr. and Jayne OrensteinThe beginnings of an electric night in South Philly, however, began in silence at Comerica Park on Saturday.
Kyle Schwarber falls short in Home Run Derby, but Citizens Bank Park shines
Jordan Walker bested Schwarber, but the Phillies' ballpark — and its boisterous fans — played a starring role on a night to remember.












