Sosa's pinch-hit grand slam lifts Phillies over Angels

Edmundo Sosa delivered a pinch-hit grand slam in the ninth to lift the Phillies to a 5-3 win over the Angels, completing a late rally after a tense defensive moment where Meckler’s catch was initially ruled, then confirmed. Stott’s miscue-laden moment moments earlier had the crowd buzzing, but Sosa seized the opportunity to quiet the Angels and send Philadelphia to another dramatic ninth-inning victory. The slam marked a historic moment for the Phillies, becoming the first go-ahead pinch-hit grand slam in the ninth since Bryce Harper in 2019 and the first with two outs since Shane Victorino in 2009, with a longstanding baseball-legacy tie to Ozzie Virgil’s 1983 feat. Meckler had sparked the Angels’ early lead with production in the first inning, and Philadelphia starter Andrew Painter steadied after a rough opening, finishing strong. Sosa, who has been hot of late, went 1-for-1 with the clutch slam and has posted strong numbers over a recent 10-game stretch, boosting his overall 2024-season performance. The win helped the Phillies extend their edge in the NL Wild Card race and maintain their cushion in the NL East standings.