Cubs' Lackey dominant as Phillies fall in series finale without Velasquez

By: Matt Rappa, managing editor

Final: Cubs 8, Phillies 1 ❖ Attendance: 28,650

PHILADELPHIA — A 21-minute rain delay prevented the series finale between the Philadelphia Phillies (29-31) and MLB-best Chicago Cubs (41-17) from getting underway, but once it did, it did not last long for Phillies' right-hander Vince Velasquez as he was taking the mound for the 12th time of the season.

After throwing two sub-88 mph pitches — the second of which induced a fly out to right field by Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler — Velasquez was pulled from the game with what was later diagnosed as "right biceps soreness." The right-hander has sustained an injury to his right arm in the past, more specifically Tommy John reconstructive surgery of his right elbow in 2010.

Making his ninth career start against the Phillies, right-hander John Lackey was dominant, tossing seven shutout innings while retiring each of his last 16 batters faced. Cubs pitching combined to retire 22 of their final 23 Phillies batters as they went on to win in convincing fashion, 8-1, in the rubber match of the series.

Cubs starters have now allowed three earned runs or fewer in 13 consecutive games, posting a 9-2 record with a 1.34 ERA over this stretch.

The Phillies now have a -57 run differential — tied for fourth-worst in MLB — and are 16-16 at home this season.

WP: John Lackey (7-2, 2.63 ERA) ❖ LP: Brett Oberholtzer (2-1, 5.83 ERA)

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Hub: Game Summary ❖ Starting Pitchers ❖ At the Plate ❖ Bullpen ❖ What's Next

Game Summary

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
CHC	0	0	0	0	1	3	0	4	0	8	13	0
PHI	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	3	1

Replacing Velasquez on the mound was southpaw Brett Oberholtzer, who with Velasquez and minor-leaguers Mark Appel, Harold Arauz and Thomas Eshelman came over from the Houston Astros this offseason in the Ken Giles trade.

The Phillies failed to capitalize on their early chance to score in Wednesday's contest. Center fielder Odubel Herrera led off the game against Cubs veteran RHP John Lackey with a single to right field. Second baseman Cesar Hernandez followed with a single of his own to center, putting runners on the corners with nobody out.

As the next batter, shortstop Freddy Galvis, flew out to left field, Herrera attempted to tag up but was thrown out at home plate by Albert Almora, who was making his first MLB start as the replacement to injured outfielder Jorge Soler (left hamstring strain).

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The Cubs also did not take advantage of an inning where their first two runners reached base. Back-to-back singles in the top of the third by catcher Miguel Montero and shortstop Javier Baez resulted in two runners in scoring position with nobody out. The next batter, Lackey, grounded into a fielder's choice to Hernandez, who threw Montero out at home. Fowler followed by grounding into an inning-ending double play.

Oberholtzer induced another inning-ending double play in the top of the fourth inning, this time by Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo. He had the chance to turn another in the fifth on a fielder's choice grounder, but committed a throwing error to second to allow both runners to reach safely. Baez delivered the game's first run with a RBI-single to left field.

Oberholtzer was removed from the game in favor of right-hander Andrew Bailey, who retired the next two Cubs batters to prevent further damage in the fifth. In total, Oberholtzer tossed four innings in relief of the injured Velasquez, allowing just one unearned run on a walk and a strikeout.

After a leadoff single by right fielder Jason Heyward, Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant hit a two-run blast to left field off Bailey. Two batters later, second baseman Ben Zobrist homered to center field, extending the Cubs lead to four.

The game would remain 4-0 in favor of the Cubs until the top of the eighth inning. A RBI double and single off the glove of right-hander Colton Murray by Rizzo and Almora, respectively, added two more insurance runs. Almora's single was the first hit and RBI of his career. Later in the inning, Baez picked up his fourth hit of the game, a two-RBI single to center field.

Pinch-hitting to start the bottom of the ninth against left-hander Clayton Richard, Tommy Joseph walked to snap a 19-batters-retired streak by Cubs pitching. Joseph advanced to second on a passed ball by Montero and third on a ground out by Herrera. Hernandez then grounded out to third to score Joseph, the Phillies' only run and RBI of the game.

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Starting Pitchers