After ten straight wins in every flavor from easy blowout to stunning comeback to extra-inning thriller, the Phillies' streak came to an end Wednesday afternoon with a 10-5 loss to the Cubs. Jamie Moyer took the loss, struggling through five innings in which he allowed eight hits and five runs, but the Phils' bullpen--untouchable in six innings the night before--kept short-circuiting potential comebacks. After the Phils had pulled to within 5-3, Chad Durbin came in for the seventh inning and allowed three runs, on two hits and three walks, without recording an out. Brad Lidge came in for the ninth inning with the team down 8-5, and surrendered two more runs on two hits and two walks. Ryan Theriot had three hits and three stolen bases for the Cubs, and Aramis Ramirez and Jeff Baker each had two-run doubles.
The Phils' offense did a respectable job against Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano, who allowed five runs (four earned) on ten hits and three walks in his 6 2/3 innings of work. But all ten hits were singles, and the team left 11 men on base for the day. The Phils' last best chance came in the eighth, when a Ramirez error and two walks loaded the bases for Ryan Howard. Facing Chicago closer Kevin Gregg, off whom he's never had a hit, Howard grounded out softly to first, ending the threat.
The Phils' homestand resumes Thursday night when Cole Hamels pitches in a makeup game against his hometown San Diego Padres. Given the ten innings of bullpen work in a stretch of about eighteen hours, here's hoping he can go deep into the evening.