Phillies Drop First of Four Game Series to Cubs, 5-1

It's safe to say we're all tired of these kinds of losses.

Roy Halladay was pitching himself a beauty of a game against the Chicago Cubs in the two teams' first meeting of the season. Paul Maholm hasn't had much luck against the Phillies in recent years, but that was about to change.

Doc retired the first 10 batters he faced, striking out the side in the second inning. In the fourth, Tony Campana singled to center and was able to score on an RBI single from Starlin Castro. 1-0 Cubs.

In the top of the sixth, Doc put himself in a major pickle. Although, you can blame the insane strike zone on home plate umpire C.B. Buckner. Bryan LaHair singled to left shortly after Tony Campana hit an infield single. Alfonso Soriano smacked an RBI single to left field to score Campana, followed by an RBI double to right from Ian Stewart. 3-0 Cubs.

The Phillies wouldn't have such a lucky sixth inning. By that point in the game, Maholm had retired 15 of the last 16 batters he faced. The last hit came in the fourth inning, a single from Ty Wigginton. Which, by the way, extended his hitting streak to 12 games. 

Speaking of Ty Wigginton, he provided the first run of the game for the Phillies in the seventh inning with a solo homer to left field. 3-1. 

Roy Halladay was taken out after seven innings. His final line: 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. He tossed 113 pitches.

Antonio Bastardo came in for the eighth inning and allowed one hit and one walk before Michael Schwimer replaced him with one out in the eighth and finished the job.

Schwimer also pitched the top of the ninth and walked one before allowing an RBI triple to Reed Johnson to right field (Pence shouldn't have dove for the ball, especially with his shoulder). DeJesus singled to score Johnson, putting the Cubs up 5-1. 

Nothing to report in regard to the Phillies' offense, or lack thereof. 

So, in the first of this four-game series against the Cubs, the Phillies fail to score runs to back up Roy Halladay, resulting in a 5-1 loss. Next game is tomorrow at 7:05.