Kyle Schwarber’s grand slam highlighted a six-run first and Aaron Nola allowed two runs while striking out 10 over seven innings as the Philadelphia Phillies snapped a five-game losing streak with Saturday’s 12-3 rout of the visiting Chicago Cubs.
Kody Clemens (2-for-4) belted a two-run shot in the first and Edmundo Sosa added three hits with an RBI. Bryson Stott went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Phillies, who broke out after totaling 11 runs during that five-game skid, and no more than four in any of those contests.
Nola (4-3) allowed only a two-run, sixth-inning homer to Dansby Swanson, plus three other hits and one walk, while lasting seven innings for a second consecutive outing.
After being held to three hits during Friday’s 10-1 loss, Philadelphia totaled four against Cubs starter Jameson Taillon (0-3) in the first.
Stott and Nick Castellanos opened with back-to-back singles, then Bryce Harper (two hits, RBI) walked. Following a J.T. Realmuto popout, ex-Cub Schwarber clubbed a Taillon pitch into the second deck of the right field seats for his fifth career grand slam.
Alec Bohm then reached on an error by third baseman Patrick Wisdom and eventually scored on Clemens’ drive into the right-center field seats for his fourth homer of the season and a 6-0 Philadelphia lead.
According to Marquee Sports Network, the Cubs have allowed at least one first-inning run in seven consecutive games for the first time since 1961.
Taillon was charged with eight runs (six earned) while giving up six hits and three walks in just 2 1/3 innings, as Chicago lost for the 18th time in 26 games.
Christopher Morel extended his hitting streak to 10 games since making his debut on May 9. He went 2-for-3 with his seventh homer for the Cubs, who are mired in a 3-12 road stretch.
Philadelphia shortstop Trea Turner, batting .257 with just four homers on the season, was given the day off following an 0-for-4 performance Friday, when he also committed an error.
–Field Level Media
