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Watch: Kyle Schwarber smacks lead-off homer, joining rare group
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber. Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Phillies' Kyle Schwarber smacks lead-off homer, joining rare group

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber smashed home run No. 18 on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, taking starter Gavin Stone deep on the game's third pitch. 

For Schwarber, it was career RBI No. 600. An incredible accomplishment in and of itself, but one that places the unlikely lead-off specialist among a short and impressive list.

Schwarber accomplished the lofty feat in career game No. 1,060. Per Stathead, he's only the 27th player in major league history to reach 600 RBI over that many games or fewer and only the tenth since 1956.

Meanwhile, Schwarber's long ball was his eighth lead-off dinger of the season, tying him with Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles for the league lead. Likewise, it was a good sign for the Phillies designated hitter, who recently returned after missing nine games with a groin injury and hadn't homered since June 18.

Without Schwarber and All-Star first baseman Bryce Harper, also out with injury, the Phillies managed to go 5-4 before both returned to the lineup in Tuesday night's rout of the Dodgers, 10-1. Schwarber went 1-for-4 with two RBI and a walk, adding to his National League-leading total (60). 

Mike Santa Barbara

Mike Santa Barbara is a Wilmington, Delaware native (Yes, it's a real place) with over a decade of sports writing experience. A diehard Philadelphia sports fan, he has two dogs named after Flyers and cried real tears when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. You can follow him on Twitter at @mike__sb

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