Phillies swept by lousy Cubs in 4-3 matinee loss
The Phillies dropped their third consecutive game and were swept by the basement dwelling Cubs in a 4-3 Sunday matinee loss.
Cubs (38-57) Beat Phillies (49-46)
- Winning Pitcher:Â Drew Smyly (3-5, 3.93)
- Losing Pitcher Bailey Falter (0-3, 5.18)
- Save:Â David Robertson (14, 1.48)
Seven runs. That’s all the Phillies offense could muster during the 3-game sweep at the hands of the visiting Chicago Cubs, who pulled off the sweep in South Philadelphia for the first time since July 25-27, 2000.
Most baseball teams are not going to win many ball games when scoring less than three runs a game, especially when you are starting a pitcher in Bailey Falter, who at best should be only a bullpen contributor. Of course, Falter only took the mound because of a knee injury that has kept starting pitching Zach Eflin out of action for the better part of the last month.
Falter actually pitched worse than his numbers would suggest, as he successfully wiggled out of a bases loaded jam in a 3rd inning in which he had already allowed two runs. Falter struggled with command giving up a combined three solo home runs and four earned runs total in 5 innings of work.
The Phillies offense began to battle back beginning in the 5th inning when Alec Bohm hit and RBI single, cutting the Chicago lead to three runs. Rhys Hoskins would add his own RBI single in the 6th inning and Garrett Stubbs, who got the start at catcher for JT Realmuto, homered in the 8th inning to cut the lead to one run.
The game ended with a David Robertson save opportunity, a fitting narrative to end a three game sweep at home at the hands of lousy baseball team. The former Phillie, who was paid over $23 million and pitched only 6.2 innings during his three injury plagued season in Philadelphia walked Bryson Stott and allowed a single to Alec Bohm to put the tying runner in scoring position with only one out. But the Phillies offense was unable to overcome the veteran right hander who is having quite the comeback season in Chicago, posting a 1.88 ERA with 14 saves over 38.1 innings of work.
Didi Gregorius lined out to left and Garrett Stubbs struck out swinging to end the game and conclude a miserable three game series, the first of the second half of the season.
There’s not much to say, we all knew the Phillies offense would eventually struggle without Jean Segura and Bryce Harper in the lineup. This team managed to keep the ship afloat through the first couple weeks of Harper’s absence, but clearly do not have the firepower to drive in runs when it matters the most.
There will be no time to hang their heads however, as the Braves come to town to begin a huge three game series at Citizens Bank Park tomorrow night. If the Phillies keep playing with this level of effort and passion early next week, Nick Castellanos wont be the only player being asked tough questions about the boo birds raining down on them.
Yan Gomes takes Bailey Falter deep in the top of the 3rd inning for a solo home run putting the Cubs on top.
1-0 Cubs
Christopher Morel doubles down the left field line to bring in another run for the visiting Cubs.
2-0 Cubs
Bailey Falter avoid disaster by getting himself out of a bases loaded jam with only one out by striking out Seiya Suzuki and getting Ian Happ to ground out to shortstop.
Yan Gomes takes Bailey Falter deep for a solo shot for the second time this afternoon, extending the Cubs lead.
3-0 Cubs
Bailey Falter gives up his third solo home run of the day to Cubs outfielder Nelson Velasquez. Geeze!
4-0 Cubs
Alec Bohm finally puts the Phillies on the board with an RBI single to score Bryson Stott in the 5th inning.
4-1 Cubs
Rhys Hoskins cuts into the Cubs lead in the 6th inning with an RBI single to score Garrett Stubbs from third base.
4-2 Cubs
Garrett Stubbs hits a solo shot to right field and makes it a one run ball game in the 8th inning!
4-3 Cubs
Didi Gregorius cant make former Phillie David Robertson pay in the 9th inning as he hits a lazy fly ball to right field to end the ball game. The Cubs sweep the Phillies in the 3-game weekend home stand.
Ouch.
Cubs win 4-3.
Up Next for the Phillies
The Phillies will looks to avoid a four game losing streak as they take on the visiting Atlanta Braves Monday night in a 3-game series at Citizens Bank park
Ranger Suarez (7-5, 4.07) will toe the rubber facing off against Max Fried (10-3, 2.64) with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm.
NBC Sports Philadelphia will carry the broadcast of the game.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Philadelphia Phillies
