PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies needed this.
Following a flat performance on Friday, it didn’t take long for them to bounce back, scoring six runs in the first inning, contributing to their 12-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs, and breaking their five-game losing skid.
However, it started from a commanding start from Aaron Nola, who went 1-2-3 and had two strikeouts on eight pitches in the first inning.
With the momentum on their side, the Phillies went on a scoring parade.
After Bryson Stott, Nick Castellanos, and Bryce Harper all reached base and J.T. Realmuto popped out, Kyle Schwarber unloaded on Cubs starter Jameson Taillon with a 435-foot grand slam into the second deck in right field.
But it didn’t stop there. After Alec Bohm reached on an error by Cubs’ third baseman Patrick Wisdom, Brandon Marsh struck out looking but Kody Clemens picked him up.
The infielder was placed in the lineup, playing first base, after Trea Turner was announced Saturday to be taking the day to rest. He homered a fly ball 401 feet to center field, making it 6-0. Clemens has hit a home run in four of his last 11 games.
On Friday, the Phillies managed just one run and three hits. They saw only three opportunities to score with runners in scoring position and didn’t capitalize on any of them.
That wasn’t the case Saturday. Each of them saw action during their at-bats. The group finished with 13 hits, 12 runs, 11 RBIs, and eight strikeouts.
Phils get offensive mojo back
By mid third-inning, the Cubs relieved their starting pitcher Jameson Taillon for Michael Rucker.
Taillon, who the Phillies considered during the free-agency period as a mid-rotation starter, instead signed Taijuan Walker, threw 62 pitches in 2 1/3 innings, allowing six hits, eight runs, one strike and two home runs.
Rucker entered the mound with the bases loaded. Edmundo Sosa then powered an RBI single, scoring Schwarber. With two outs, Stott hit a sacrifice fly to center fielder Christopher Morel, and extended their lead to 8-0 with Bohm reaching home plate.
Income the fifth inning, where the Phillies attacked Rucker’s fastball. Following Stott scoring in Clemens, Harper did more than have an impressive at-bat, he was aggressive on base. The designated hitter turned his ground ball out to right field into a double play, after he slide to second base while Sosa ran home.
Rucker was pulled out after that point for reliever Jeremiah Estrada. Yet, the Phillies' hitting didn’t stop there. In the seventh inning, Sosa, who had a stellar performance on both sides of the field, was in scoring position. Rob Thomson decided to replace Castellanos with pinch-hitter Josh Harrison, which worked in their favor as he hit hit a sacrifice fly to score Sosa.
Garrett Stubbs even saw some action. After being subsisted in for J.T. Realmuto in the ninth inning, the catcher slammed a triple off a 97.5 mph fastball to right field and scored moments later, thanks to a Dalton Guthrie walk.
Nola sets the tone
After the Phillies starters have gone two or fewer innings in three of the last four games, Nola broke that streak with a top-notch performance.
He commanded the strike zone and maintained a 92-94 mph velocity. He threw 10 strikeouts, allowed four hits, two runs, and one homer in seven innings on 98 pitches.
In five scoreless innings, Nola allowed a two-run homer in the sixth off an 84.8 mph cutter that caught contact of Cubs’ Dansby Swanson’s bat, soaring out to left center field. However, Nola struck out the next two at-bats.
He was relieved by Connor Brogdon, who allowed a home run in the seventh. Yunior Marte closed out the win for the Phillies going 1-2-3 on the mound. The win broke the Phillies' seven game losing streak against the Cubs.
