OOTP 6/9: Cubs 12, Phillies 9

When your ace gives up a three spot in the first inning, thanks to spotty command with his pitches, you know it’s going to be a long night.

This was one of those nights.

A bunt single on the first pitch of the game by Ian Happ was the signal of doom for the Phillies. It was apparent that when things like that happen, it’s going to be bad. Kris Bryant doubled Happ to third and the Cubs were in business. Kyle Schwarber singled both of them in and before the fans could dip their first crabfry in the cheese, the Phillies were down 2-0. Making things worse, the Cubs would add another run in the inning and it didn’t look good.

The Phillies bounced back with two of their own in the bottom of the first thanks to doubles from Roman Quinn and Jean Segura, making it 3-1. Scott Kingery would make it 3-2 thanks to an RBI single...

...then he got picked off first base.

In the third, Willson Contreras continued his onslaught of the Phillies by blasting a solo home run. A single and a walk after that continued Nola’s miserable night. When Albert Almora doubled both runs home, making it 6-2, all the fans knew then and there that Nola wouldn’t make it much further.

He didn’t, getting yanked after three dismal innings in favor of Ranger Suarez.

Bryant made it 7-2 with a home run in the fourth and things were looking bad until the Phillies came to bat in the bottom of the innings. J.T. Realmuto doubled, then scored when Kingery hit a two-run home run, making it 7-4. When Jose Quintana hit Rhys Hoskins with the next pitch, he charged the mound, benches emptied and a huge brawl was on. As the dust cleared, both Quintana and Hoskins were ejected, Alec Mills relieving for Chicago. He gave up back-to-back singles to Logan Forsythe and Jay Bruce and the Phillies had another run. Quinn grounded out to score Forsythe and suddenly, the score was a more manageable 7-6.

But here comes that once reliable bullpen.

Tommy Hunter gave up two runs in the fifth after allowing a single and a home run to Victor Caratini and the momentum was gone. Realmuto tried to get it back with a solo shot of his own, but you could already tell who was going to win this game.

Bryant homered again in the eighth to increase the lead to 11-7, putting the Phillies on life support. Bruce had signs of life with his 19th home run of the season in the bottom of the inning, but Chicago got it right back ninth. Segura continued his magical season with a solo home run in the ninth, but it was for naught. The game ended when Rex Brothers got Kingery to meekly ground out and notched one in the win column for the Cubs.

After the game, the following transactions were announced:

• Rhys Hoskins was suspended for four games.
• The Phillies traded Tony Cingrani, who had been DFA’d earlier in the week, to San Diego for minor league shortstop Allen Cordoba.
• The Phillies also traded Ronald Torreyes to Kansas City for minor leaguers Jhonatan Jaquez and Austin Cox.
• Alec Bohm was summarily promoted from Reading to Lehigh Valley.