Cody Bellinger was the catalyst for the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night, tripling, singling twice, and driving in four runs as they cruised to a 10-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
The night wasn't without its highlights for Philadelphia, as Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper both launched home runs—Schwarber notched his 38th of the season while Harper celebrated his 30th, marking the fifth time in his career reaching that milestone. However, the Phillies (93-65) found themselves in a deep hole early, trailing 6-1 after the second inning.
Manager Rob Thomson opted for his regular lineup, excluding catcher J.T. Realmuto, as the Phillies aimed to secure home-field advantage in the National League playoffs. With just four games remaining, they need to maintain at least a tie with the Milwaukee Brewers to clinch a first-round playoff bye. Milwaukee's win over Pittsburgh on Tuesday reduced the Phillies' cushion to just 2.5 games.
After Harper's solo shot put Philadelphia ahead early, Tanner Banks and Taijuan Walker faltered in the second inning, allowing six runs.
Walker, who signed a four-year, $72 million contract before the season, faced a raucous crowd as he walked consecutive batters with the bases loaded. The boos intensified when Seiya Suzuki followed with a two-run single, deepening the Phillies' woes.
While the Phillies have solidified their playoff positioning, they will not need a fifth starter for the remainder of the season, a role that has been a concern throughout the second half.
The Cubs added insult to injury in the sixth, scoring four more runs, capped by Bellinger’s bases-clearing triple to right field.
In a positive note for Philadelphia, Austin Hays made his return to the lineup after missing time with a kidney infection, contributing with a hit in four at-bats. The series concludes Wednesday night, with Cubs right-hander Javier Assad (7-5, 3.34 ERA) set to face Phillies lefty Cristopher Sánchez (11-9, 3.25 ERA).
