Unsung heroes Sosa, Cave carry Philly to massive series win

PHILADELPHIA -- It takes more than superstars to make the postseason and win a World Series.

Edmundo Sosa offered the Phillies a reminder of that fact on Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Jake Cave did, too.

Sosa hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning in a 6-4 victory over the Orioles, helping the Phillies capture the series and move into a three-way tie with San Francisco and Cincinnati for the three NL Wild Card spots.

Sosa has been a bench player since the Phillies acquired him in July 2022. He started Wednesday because Phillies manager Rob Thomson wanted to give struggling shortstop Trea Turner a breather with an off-day coming up, as Sosa slotted into the nine-spot in the lineup.

“All I saw was the ball going up in the air real high, so I stood there for a second and then I started running,” Sosa said through the team’s interpreter.

Cave doubled to score the Phillies’ first run in the third inning. He made a fantastic catch at the left-field wall to save a run in the sixth. Cave made the Phillies’ Opening Day roster, got optioned on May 2 and tore up Triple-A pitching for more than two months before he rejoined the Phillies last Friday. He hit eighth.

“We’re playing around a bunch of superstars out here,” Cave said. “Anything we do to contribute to help these guys, to help the [Craig] Kimbrels and the [Gregory] Sotos and these guys to do their job because we helped them get a lead, we’re doing our job. Any given day you’re going to have Turner, Schwarbs [Kyle Schwarber], [Bryce] Harper all going deep and having these huge games. So if we can contribute something as well, then that’s a good sign of a good club.”

There had been some hand wringing lately after the Phillies lost consecutive series to the Brewers and Guardians. The frustration mounted following Monday’s 3-2 loss to Baltimore. But the Phillies enjoyed a 4-3 walk-off victory Tuesday before Sosa and Cave paved the way Wednesday.

The Phillies just won a series against the team with the best record in the American League.

Brandon Marsh walked and scored on Cave’s double to start the third. Sosa followed with a walk. Cave scored two batters later when Nick Castellanos singled to center to cut the Orioles’ lead to 3-2. J.T. Realmuto’s double in the fourth scored two to take a 4-3 lead.

Baltimore had a runner on second with two outs in the sixth, when Ramón Urías ripped a ball to left field. Cave ran almost 60 feet toward the left-field wall. He jumped to make an over-the-shoulder catch, slamming into the wall and tumbling backward.

He held onto the ball.

Cave looked up at the fans in the first row. He yelled at them, then tossed them the ball.

“It looks like I was talking some trash,” Cave said. “I wasn’t. They were hyping me up and I was letting them know that I was right there with them. I loved it. … It’s Philly stadium, the rubber match against the Orioles, I mean, there’s not much that compares to that, unless you’re doing it in the playoffs or something.”

Cave was fired up as he ran to the dugout alongside Marsh, who sprinted over to him to pick him up and celebrate.

“That was a huge moment in the game,” Marsh said. “Making a play on the wall like that was incredible. The boys needed it, so I was lit. I think he punched me. … I went over there to pick him up and scream with him because I feel like him and I are very similar in that aspect. We get hyped. He gave me a good shove/punch, but if he’s doing that, I’ll let him punch me any day.”

Cave batted .346 with 16 home runs, 49 RBIs and a 1.113 OPS in Triple-A. It was the second-best OPS in the International League.

“There were worse positions to be in,” Cave said about his time in Triple-A. “I was down there playing pro ball. I’m an hour away from Philly stadium, knowing anything can happen at any time. If I go down and I pout, that doesn’t help anybody. It definitely doesn’t help me. It doesn’t help the team. There are people who would give anything to be in my position -- Triple-A ballplayer, still on the roster.”

The Triple-A player got promoted last Friday. He helped the Phillies win a big series on Wednesday.

“This is a winning ballclub here,” Cave said.