Game Sixty-Six: Cubs 4, Phillies 7
WP – David Buchanan (2-3) LP – Edwin Jackson (4-7) Save – Jonathan Papelbon (15)
Edwin Jackson had another rough outing. Jackson could not complete five innings after the Phillies launched two home runs that accounted for four of the seven runs he allowed as the Cubs dropped the second game of the series in Philadelphia.
Edwin Jackson struggled with his command again. One of his two walks was to the Phillies pitcher, David Buchanan on five pitches. Jackson served up a solo homer to Chase Utley in the first inning and allowed at least one extra basehit in each of his first three innings. The Cubs cut the Phillies led to 4-3 in the fourth on three solo home runs, but Edwin Jackson could not put Domonic Brown away in the fifth. And Brown’s three-run shot put the game out of reach and ended Jackson’s afternoon.
Edwin Jackson allowed seven runs, six earned, on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Jackson threw 91 pitches, 56 for strikes, in 4 2/3 innings. Jackson was unable to complete five innings for the third time in 14 starts this season. Jackson has failed to complete at least six innings in eight of his 14 starts.
Carlos Villanueva picked up the final out in the fifth and pitched a scoreless sixth. And James Russell kept the Phillies off the board in the seventh and eighth innings.
Three of the Cubs four runs scored on three solo homers. Mike Olt (1-for-4 with a home run) hit his 10th longball of the season in the second inning that tied the game at two. Olt’s longball was his first since May 18 at Wrigley Field off Marco Estrada and was his first hit in 22 at bats (0-for-21). Justin Ruggiano (2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored) cut the Phillies lead to 4-2 in the third with his second round tripper of the year. Luis Valbuena (2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI) stayed hot and his fourth dinger of the season in the fourth brought the Cubs within one run at the time.
The Cubs managed nine hits. Eli Whiteside (1-for-3) singled in the fifth for his first hit of the season. And Anthony Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
The Cubs scored a run in the eighth after three straight hits from Rizzo, Starlin Castro (1-for-3 with a walk) and Valbuena. Luis Valbuena’s second hit of the game plated Rizzo with the Cubs’ fourth run.
History was made in the fifth inning of Saturday’s game when Jimmy Rollins pulled a 3-1 pitch from Edwin Jackson into right field. Rollins pasted Michael Jack Schmidt on the Phillies All-Time hit list with the 2,235th hit of his career.
With Saturday’s loss, the Cubs dropped to 27-39 on the season.
The Cubs collected two hits in the first inning, but Anthony Rizzo’s single actually hit Justin Ruggiano as he made his way from first to second base. Rizzo was credited with a singled and Ruggiano was called out. The Cubs could not string together any hits and David Buchanan kept the Cubs off the board on 18 pitches, 10 for strikes.
Edwin Jackson retired Ben Revere on a foul out to left and Jimmy Rollins on a grounder to first to start his afternoon. Jackson jumped ahead of Chase Utley 0-2. Jackson could not put Utley away. He worked the count back to even before lifting a 2-2 pitch into the breeze. The ball carried out to right and Utley’s fifth homer of the season gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Howard flied out to center to end the inning. Jackson threw 14 pitches, eight for strikes, in the first frame.
After one inning, the Cubs were down 1-0.
David Buchanan retired Luis Valbuena on a lineout to right (3-2 pitch) and Nate Schierholtz on a flyout to left (1-2 pitch) for the first two outs in the second inning. Mike Olt worked a 2-1 count before drilling his 10th home run of the season. Olt pulled the ball to deep left and his first home run since May 18 tied the game at one. Whiteside struck out swinging to end the inning. The Cubs made Buchanan work in the second inning (40 pitches, 24 for strikes in two innings) and tied the game at one.
But the game did not remain tied for long.
Marlon Byrd worked a 3-2 count before pulling a triple in left center to start the second. With the infield in, Domonic Brown tapped Jackson’s first pitch back to the mound. Jackson fielded the ball and threw to first for the out. Jackson hung a breaking ball to Carlos Ruiz on a 2-0 pitch. Ruiz ripped the hanger into left, Byrd scored, 2-1 Phillies. Reid Brignac worked a 3-2 count before ripping a single into right. Ruiz was running on the pitch and advanced to third with one down. Jackson struck out Buchanan for the second out. Ben Revere blooped a 1-2 pitch into center. Junior Lake could not decide if he wanted to dive for the ball or not. Lake got too close and the ball skipped past him. Ruiz and Brignac scored, 4-1 Phillies. Rollins lined out to first base to finally end the inning. Jackson threw 40 pitches, 25 for strikes, in two innings.
The Phillies took a commanding 4-1 lead into the third inning.
After Jackson struck out swinging and Junior Lake flied out to deep right center to start the third, Justin Ruggiano cranked a solo home run to left, 4-2 Phillies. Rizzo grounded out to first base to end the inning.
Edwin Jackson actually kept the Phillies off the board in the third despite giving up another extra basehit. Jackson threw 54 pitches, 36 for strikes, in three innings.
Luis Valbuena cut the Phillies lead to 4-3 in the fourth. Castro tapped back to the mound to start the inning. Luis Valbuena followed with a solo shot to right, his fourth longball of the season. Schierholtz grounded out to second and Olt struck out swinging to end the inning.
Other than issuing a two-out walk to the rookie right hander, David Buchanan, Jackson had a good fourth inning. After four complete, the Cubs trailed 4-3.
The Cubs failed to cash in runners on first and second with two outs in the fifth, and the game went to the bottom half with the Cubs down by one run.
Edwin Jackson allowed the game to get out of hand in the fifth, and was lifted before he could record three outs. Jimmy Rollins led off the fifth with a single to right for hit No. 2,235. After a short celebration that included Mike Schmidt, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard flied out to right. Rollins stole second with Byrd at the plate. Jackson walked Byrd and put runners on first and second with two down. Jackson jumped ahead of Brown 2-1. Domonic Brown launched a 94 mph fastball that was right down the middle of the plate. Brown’s fifth home run, a three-run shot to right gave the Phillies a 7-3 lead. Rick Renteria decided that was enough of Jackson and went to his pen for Carlos Villanueva. Ruiz singled and Brignac doubled before pinch-hitter Ronny Cedeno grounded out to second to finally end the inning.
The Phillies led 7-3 after five innings.
The Cubs cut into the Phillies four-run lead in the eighth inning. After Jake Diekman struck out Ruggiano swinging for the first out, Anthony Rizzo singled to right center. Starlin Castro followed with a single to right. Luis Valbuena stepped in with runners on first and second with one down and ripped a single under Diekman’s legs and into center. Rizzo scored, 7-4 Phillies. Nate Schierholtz grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Rick Renteria asked for the call at first to be checked and the call on the field was upheld … inning over.
James Russell tossed a scoreless eighth and the game went to the ninth with the Cubs down by three runs.
The Cubs did nothing in the ninth against Jonathan Papelbon.
Travis Wood is scheduled to face A.J. Burnett in the series and season finale with the Phillies on Sunday afternoon (12:35pm CDT).