Phillies clinch fourth straight playoff berth despite 10-3 loss to Royals, who get 5 RBIs from Perez

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Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez hits a there-run home run off of Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino (9) scores past Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto, left, off an RBI single by teammate Salvador Perez during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) — Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez hits a there-run home run off of Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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2:03 PM on Sunday, September 14

The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies clinched their fourth straight postseason berth despite wasting a two-run lead Sunday in a 10-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals, who got a three-run homer and five RBIs from Salvador Perez.

Philadelphia became the second team assured of a playoffs spot when San Francisco lost later Sunday to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Phillies would have clinched their second consecutive NL East title with a victory but had to wait at least one more day for the division crown.

Philadelphia, which entered with a six-game winning streak, leads the NL East by 12 games over the second-place New York Mets.

Milwaukee clinched a playoff berth on Saturday.

Kyle Schwarber hit his NL-high 52nd homer for Philadelphia, which will in the postseason in four straight years for just the second time. The Phillies won five straight NL East titles from 2007-11.

Perez hit his third homer in two games, a three-run drive off Aaron Nola (4-9) in a four-run sixth that built a 6-2 lead. He added a two-run single in the seventh as the Royals ended a six-game losing streak.

Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto homered in the first off Noah Cameron (8-7), who allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings.ac Caglianone tied the score with a two-run homer in the fifth and Bobby Witt Jr. homered in the ninth against Max Lazar.

Royals closer Carlos Estévez got two outs in the ninth before leaving with mild back tightness.

Bryson Stott also homered for the Phillies.

Nola allowed six runs and six hits in six innings.

Key moment

Witt led off the sixth with a triple off the high wall in right and scored on a double by Vinny Pasquantino, who had three hits.

Key stats

Kansas City has been swept in series just four times this season, second-fewest in the AL.

Up next

Royals: Host Seattle and RHP Logan Gilbert (4-6, 3.54) in a series starting Tuesday.

Phillies: LHP Rangers Suárez (12-6, 2.77) starts Monday night's series opener at the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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