Final: Cubs 7, Phillies 3
WP: Kyle Hendricks (7-6, 4.08 ERA) LP: Alec Asher (0-3, 10.67 ERA)
Philadelphia, PA – Backed by a two home run night by left fielder Kyle Schwarber, the third multi home run performance of his rookie season, the Chicago Cubs (82-58) secured the double header sweep over the Philadelphia Phillies (54-88) Friday evening at Citizens Bank Park.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Cubs | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 0 |
| Phillies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
Chicago got out to an early, 3-0 lead thanks to two, first-pitch home runs by Kyle Schwarber in the top of the first and second innings.
Kyle Schwarber: first #Cubs player with a first-pitch HR in both the 1st & 2nd inning in a game since Alfonso Soriano 6/8/2007
— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) September 12, 2015
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Schwarber is the second-fastest player aged 22 or younger in major league history to hit 15 career home runs.
Making his third career start, RHP Alec Asher threw 56 pitches, 35 for strikes, after the first four innings of tonight's game. The rookie's four and eight-pitch innings in the third and fourth respectively helped his pitch count greatly, as it reached 44 after the first two frames.
The Phillies' first hit of the game came off the bat of leadoff hitter center fielder Odubel Herrera in the top of the fourth. This was Herrera's 27th double in his rookie season.
Advancing to third off of a groundout by second baseman Darnell Sweeney, Herrera came around to score the following batter as Andres Blanco grounded out to second for his 19th run-batted-in of 2015.
Following a one-out walk by Schwarber in the fifth, right fielder Chris Coghlan doubled to deep left center field to give the Cubs a 4-1 lead.
Their scoring threat wouldn't end there, as two batters later rookie third baseman Kris Bryant blasted his 24th career home run, a two-run shot which ricocheted off of the center field ivy.
The Phillies tacked-on their second run of the game in the bottom of the fifth, as third baseman Cody Asche hit his22nd double of the season, and the 55th of his career, which scored right fielder Brian Bogusevic from first base.
Asher's night would be complete after just five innings. He surrendered six runs tonight on seven hits and three walks to yield a 2.000 WHIP ratio.
Over 14 1/3 innings in the big leagues, Asher has now allowed five home runs and 17 runs total to produce a 10.67 ERA.
RHP Justin De Fratus threw recorded two outs in the sixth in relief of Asher, his first appearance on the mound since August 30 against the San Diego Padres. Southpaw Kenny Roberts, making his second appearance in red pinstripes, recorded the final out of the frame.
Opposing RHP Dalier Hinojosa in the seventh, Bryant picked up his 90th run-batted-in of the season with a single to center field to score first baseman Anthony Rizzo.
With one out in the next-half inning, first baseman Ryan Howard ended his 0-35 hitless skid with his 28th double of the season. This was the Phillies' longest hitless streak, of the same length, since Raul Ibanez in 2011 according to Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Following a strikeout by catcher Cameron Rupp, Bogusevic hit a RBI-single to center field to decrease their deficit to four runs, 7-3.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon saw enough, as he pulled Hendricks after 6 2/3 innings. In his 41st career start, the 25-year-old right hander allowed three runs tonight on four hits and two walks.
The first two batters reached base in the bottom of the ninth, facing 38-year-old veteran right hander Fernando Rodney, as Blanco was hit by a pitch and left fielder Jeff Francoeur singled to right field.
Cubs' closer Hector Rondon entered in relief and recorded the final three outs to secure the Cubs' 82nd victory of the season.
Starting Pitchers
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Hendricks | 6.2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4.08 |
| Alec Asher | 5.0 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10.67 |
- Hendricks: W; 90 pitches, 60 strikes; 9 groundouts, 1 flyout; 25 faced batters
- Asher: L; 75 pitches, 46 strikes; 3 groundouts, 6 flyouts; 25 faced batters
Out of the 'Pen
Cubs
- Pedro Strop (7th): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 3.20 ERA
- Travis Wood (8th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, 4.34 ERA
- Fernando Rodney (9th): 0.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 1.59 ERA
- Hector Rondon (9th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, 1.43 ERA
Phillies
- Justin De Fratus (6th): 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 5.75 ERA
- Kenny Roberts (6th, 7th): 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 7.15 ERA
- Dalier Hinojosa (7th, 8th): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, 0.82 ERA
- Adam Loewen (8th): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 8.53 ERA
- Nefi Ogando (9th): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 9.00 ERA
At the Plate
Cubs
- Kyle Schwarber: 2-4, 3 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI, BB, .267 AVG
- Chris Coghlan: 2-5, R, 2B, RBI, .250 AVG
- Kris Bryant: 3-5, R, HR, 3 RBI, .271 AVG
Phillies
- Odubel Herrera: 1-3, R, 2B, BB, .297 AVG
- Ryan Howard: 1-4, R, 2B, .227 AVG
- Cody Asche: 1-3, 2B, RBI, .245 AVG
What's Next:
- Saturday, September 12, 2015: vs. Chicago Cubs, 7:05 pm
- RHP Dan Haren (9-9, 3.73 ERA) vs. RHP Jerad Eickhoff (1-3, 4.70 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
- Sunday, September 13, 2015: vs. Chicago Cubs, 1:35 pm
- TBA vs. RHP Aaron Harang (5-15, 5.02 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
