Game One Hundred Forty – Cubs 7, Phillies 3
WP – Kyle Hendricks (7-6) LP – Alec Asher (0-3) Save – Hector Rondon (28)
Kyle Schwarber launched the first two pitches he saw on Friday night out of the park. Schwarber smacked a solo homer in the first inning and a two-run shot in the second. Kris Bryant blasted a two-run homer in the fifth. Six of the Cubs 12 hits went for extra bases and Kyle Hendricks notched a quality start as the Cubs beat the Phillies in the nightcap and completed the sweep of the twin bill.
The Cubs hit the ball all over Citizens Bank Park during the doubleheader. After three doubles and a home run accounted for all five runs in game one, six of the seven runs scored on extra basehits in the second game.
Kyle Schwarber (2-for-4 with two home runs, a walk, three RBI and three runs scored) drove in the first three runs on two homers, the third multi-homer game of his career. Schwarber smashed the first pitch from Alec Asher in the first inning over the wall in center. With Dexter Fowler (1-for-5 with a double and a run scored) on second after a two-out double, Schwarber went oppo on the first pitch from Asher. Schwarber hit a two-run bomb over the left center field wall … two at bats, two pitches, two home runs and a 3-0 Cubs lead.
Chris Coghlan (2-for-5 with a double, a RBI and a run scored) doubled in Schwarber in the fifth after he worked a walk in his third at bat. Coghlan was at second with two down when Kris Bryant (3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI) went yard with a mammoth homer into the bushes beyond the center field wall.
The Cubs added a much-needed insurance run in the seventh. Kris Bryant plated Anthony Rizzo (1-for-4 with a double and a run scored) with the only single of the day that produced a run for the Cubs.
The Cubs scored seven runs on 12 hits, six for extra bases, and three walks … 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position, nine men left on base.
Kyle Hendricks found a rhythm and put together his longest start since Aug. 1. Hendricks pitched ahead in the count and gained confidence as the game progressed. Hendricks did not give up his third hit of the night until one out in the seventh, a double by Ryan Howard. Hendricks did a good job of keeping the Phillies off balance. There was very little hard contact against Hendricks in 6 2/3 innings.
Kyle Hendricks allowed three runs on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Hendricks made 90 pitches, 60 for strikes.
Pedro Strop recorded the last out in the seventh and Travis Wood pitched a perfect eighth.
Hector Rondon cleaned up Fernando Rodney’s mess in the ninth by retiring all three batters he faced to end the game.
Joe Maddon’s team completed the Cubs first doubleheader sweep over the Phillies in Philadelphia since July 20, 1969 at Connie Mack Stadium.
With the win in game two, the Cubs improved to a season-high 24 games over .500 with a 82-58 record.
Dexter Fowler led off the game by popping out to third base (1-2 pitch). Kyle Schwarber stepped in and launched the first pitch he saw over the wall in center. The ball traveled 448 feet and gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead.
Chris Coghlan singled to center after Schwarber’s shot. Anthony Rizzo walked and out two on with one out. Kris Bryant flied out to right. Miguel Montero walked to load the bases. But Javier Baez struck out swinging to end the inning. The Cubs made Alec Asher work, the young right hander threw 28 pitches in the first, 15 for strikes.
Kyle Hendricks ended up facing the minimum in the first. Hendricks walked Odubel Herrera to start the inning. Darnell Sweeney struck out swinging (2-2 pitch) and Andres Blanco rolled into a 6-4-3 double play. Hendricks threw 15 pitches, nine for strikes.
After one complete, the Cubs led 1-0.
Dexter Fowler prolonged another inning with a two-out knock in the second. Kyle Hendricks (pop out center) and Addison Russell (flyout to right) made two quick outs to start the inning. Fowler ripped a 2-2 pitch down the right field line. Fowler ended up at second with a double.
Kyle Schwarber unloaded on the first pitch from Alec Asher. Schwarber hit a two-run shot into the stands in left center and the Cubs took a 3-0 … two pitches, two home runs and three RBI for Schwarber.
Chris Coghlan tapped back to the mound to end the inning.
Kyle Hendricks pitched a 1-2-3 second inning (23 pitches, 14 for strikes).
The Cubs led 3-0 after two complete in game two.
Alec Asher set the Cubs down in order in the third and fourth innings. Asher made 56 pitches, 35 for strikes, in the first four innings.
The Phillies got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Odubel Herrera doubled to left and moved to third when Sweeney grounded out to Rizzo. With the infield back, Andres Blanco rolled a 0-1 pitch toward second. Baez fielded the ball, thought about throwing home, but got the out at first. Herrera scored, 3-1 Cubs. Hendricks struck out Jeff Francoeur swinging for the third out … 48 pitches for Hendricks, 33 for strikes after four innings.
The Cubs had a 3-1 lead after four innings.
After Fowler popped out to short for the first out in the fifth, Kyle Schwarber walked. Chris Coghlan ripped a double into the gap in left center. Schwarber scored from first, 4-1 Cubs. Rizzo flied out to left.
Kris Bryant gave the Cubs a 6-1 lead with a blast over the center field wall. The ball landed in the bushes behind the wall in straight away center.
Miguel Montero followed with a single to center. Baez grounded out to short for the third out. Asher made 65 pitches, 39 for strikes, in five innings.
Hendricks retired Howard and Rupp to start the fifth. Hendricks issued a two-out walk to Brian Bogusevic and it cost him. Cody Asche doubled into the right field corner. Bogusevic scored, 6-2 Cubs. Erik Kratz batted for Alec Asher and grounded out to second for the third out. Hendricks made 70 pitches, 45 for strikes, in five innings.
It was 6-2 Cubs after five innings.
The added a jug run in the seventh. Lefty Ken Roberts recorded the last out in the sixth (Schwarber flyout to track in right center) and stayed in for the seventh. Coghlan struck out swinging. Anthony Rizzo doubled to right center. Pete Mackanin went back to his pen for right hander Dallar Hinojosa. Kris Bryant singled to right center. Rizzo scored, 7-2 Cubs. Miguel Montero blooped a 2-2 pitch into left. Baez flied out to right and Hendricks struck out swinging to end the inning.
Kyle Hendricks started the seventh with a 7-2 lead. Francoeur grounded out to third for the first out. Ryan Howard doubled off the wall in right, just the Phillies’ third hit of the night. Hendricks struck out Rupp. Brian Bogusevic ripped a single into center. Howard scored, 7-3 Cubs, and Maddon made the slow walk to the mound.
Pedro Strop took over for Hendricks and Cody Asche flied out to Schwarber in left to end the inning.
The Cubs led 7-3 after seven innings.
And that would be the final score. Travis Wood completed a 1-2-3 eighth inning. Fernando Rodney made it interesting in the ninth. Rodney hit Andres Blanco and gave up a single to Jeff Francoeur. With two on and no outs, Maddon had to use Hector Rondon to close it out. Rondon struck out Howard and Rupp swinging. Brian Bogusevic grounded out to Bryant at third to end the game.
Weather permitting … Dan Haren is scheduled to face Jerad Eickhoff on Saturday night (6:05pm CDT).