Almora's slam breaks tie as Cubs drop Phillies
Albert Almora Jr. drilled a go-ahead, fifth-inning grand slam and the bullpen contributed five innings of one-run relief to lift the host Chicago Cubs to an 8-4 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night.
Chicago had three home runs while winning for the seventh time in 11 games and earning at least a split of the four-game series that is set to conclude on Thursday afternoon.
Almora snapped a 3-all tie with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth, delivering his first career grand slam on the first pitch from Phillies left-hander Cole Irvin.
Philadelphia opened the scoring in the first inning, as J.T. Realmuto hit an RBI ground-rule double with two out. The Phillies added to their early advantage in the third, with Rhys Hoskins and Cesar Hernandez contributing run-scoring singles, both on ground balls to center field.
Cubs starter Cole Hamels escaped further trouble, which proved key for Chicago in the bottom of the third. After Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant reached base on singles to start the inning, Anthony Rizzo belted a three-run home run off the right field scoreboard, swinging on a 3-0 delivery from Irvin to tie the score at 3-3.
Irvin (2-1) yielded seven runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings with three walks and six strikeouts.
Hamels took a no-decision, allowing three runs on nine hits in four innings while striking out six and walking two.
The teams traded solo home runs late in the game, with Chicago's Javier Baez connecting in the seventh inning before the Phillies' Andrew McCutchen answered in the eighth.
Right-hander Tyler Chatwood (3-0) was the winning pitcher, yielding one run on three hits in four-plus innings with one walk and three strikeouts. Steve Cishek entered the game after Chatwood allowed a leadoff single to Bryce Harper in the ninth, spacing one hit and one strikeout before ending the game.
Harper and McCutchen had three hits each for the Phillies. Schwarber and Bryant had two hits each for the Cubs.
--Field Level Media