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) also 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 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 pop out, ex-Cub Schwarber clubbed a Taillon pitch into the second deck of the right-field seats for his sixth 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
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