By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
In another tight contest between two of the National League's contending teams, the Chicago Cubs (28-18) ultimately prevailed against the Philadelphia Phillies (28-20) Tuesday evening at Wrigley Field, 3-2.
With the late-inning heartbreak — capped off by Javier Baez's pinch-hit, walk-off RBI single — the Phillies failed to capture their fifth straight win, improve to a season-high 10 games over .500, and move past the Cubs for sole possession of the second-best record in the National League. Center fielder Andrew McCutchen's seventh inning, two-RBI single was the Phillies' only offense in the defeat.
The Phillies are now 26-2 this season when entering the ninth inning with a lead.
In a tight game at Wrigley Field, Andrew McCutchen gives the Phillies the lead with a seventh-inning single. @WGNNews pic.twitter.com/DbD963Q1x7
— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) May 22, 2019
The Phillies mustered no offense through the first six innings of the game, putting together just two hits opposite veteran southpaw Jose Quintana; in fact, the Cubs' first-inning RBI groundout from catcher Willson Contreras was the game's only run. Quintana tossed six scoreless frames, allowing just the two hits and three walks, while punching out four Phillies batters on 100 pitches and 59 strikes.
Everything changed in the seventh when the Cubs went to their bullpen.
Two batters after Cesar Hernandez singled to left to start the frame, Maikel Franco doubled to the ivy in left, putting two runners in scoring position with one out. While pinch-hitter Odubel Herrera grounded out to the mound, McCutchen did not let the opportunity go to waste, singling to center to score both runners and give the Phillies a late, 2-1 advantage. McCutchen's go-ahead, two-RBI hit came with two strikes and two outs.
Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin was effective against the Cubs, making their hitters go 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position while leaving on base. In six innings, he allowed just the one run on six hits and four walks, while striking out two batters on 104 total pitches and 62 strikes.
McCutchen's base knock put Eflin in line for the victory, however the Phillies bullpen ultimately disappointed. Although Edgar Garcia and Jose Alvarez combined to get through the eighth, Juan Nicasio allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in the ninth en route to the loss.
Game Notes:
Bryce Harper booed all night by Cubs fans and they chanted overrated at him
So he threw a fastball over their heads across the street to Wrigley rooftops 😂😂
pic.twitter.com/YujAOe7chu— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) May 22, 2019
- The Phillies were outhit 10-6, leaving seven on base and going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
- For the first time in his career, Bryce Harper failed to reach base at least once in a game played at Wrigley Field, snapping an 18-game streak (0-4, 3 groundouts, 1 strikeout).
- Eflin accounted for one of the Phillies' two lone hits against Quintana (infield single in the fifth inning). The other was Jean Segura, who extended his MLB-best hitting streak to 12 games with a one-out, first-inning double to left. Segura did not collect a hit in Monday's opener until the ninth inning.
- Before Baez's walkoff, Eflin was in line to improved to 6-4 through 10 starts. In his would-be six winning decisions, the right-hander would have allowed one run or less in each, combining for a 0.84 ERA and 0.860 WHIP.
- Baez (heel contusion) was not in the lineup for the second straight game, but came up large in the ninth.
And now for your nightly dose of wholesome #content …
You're welcome. pic.twitter.com/t1Pf6yt4yD
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 22, 2019
- The Phillies will look to regain the series advantage on Wednesday opposite their former southpaw ace, Cole Hamels.
What's Next:
- Wednesday, May 22, 2019: at Chicago Cubs, 8:05 p.m.
- Wrigley Field, Chicago, Il.
- LHP Cole Irvin (2-0, 2.77 ERA) vs. LHP Cole Hamels (4-0, 3.13 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
