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 The Phillies collected eight extra base hits for the second straight
day-- the most since Aug. 21-22, 2002 -- as they claimed an 11-5
victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday to complete a three-game
series sweep.
"We're getting more consistent at-bats and that's why I think we're
scoring more runs," said Philadelphia manager Pete Mackanin. "They
key to any successful team is consistency. Quality at-bats
consistently, quality pitching, making all the plays which we did
(and) no errors."
Phillies right fielder Domonic Brown went 3-for-5 with a double,
triple and three RBIs to lead a 17-hit attack.
"I'd like to see us hit like that for about two-three weeks
straight," said Cubs manager Joe Maddon, whose team collected just
six hits on Sunday after being no-hit on Saturday. "They absolutely
stung everything. They were the better team for three days."
The victory was the fourth straight for the Phillies (37-63), eighth
in nine games since the All-Star Break and their first sweep away
from home.
The Cubs (51-46) dropped three in-a-row and four of their last five.
Right-handed starter Jason Hammel (5-5) lasted 3 2/3 innings, his
shortest outing of the season.
Phillies right-handed starter Aaron Nola (1-1) worked 7 2/3 innings
in his second major league start and first career win.
"It was a good team win," said Nola. "They guys hit the ball all
over the place and it was fun to watch and the defense played
great."
The Phillies jumped to a 3-0 first-inning lead before Hammel got
anyone out.
Center fielder Odubel Herrera lined a triple to right, driving in
second baseman Cesar Hernandez for a 1-0 lead.
Third baseman Maikel Franco followed with a first-pitch home run to
left field, his 11th of the season -- to also bring home Herrera.
The Cubs got their first hit since the 10th inning of Friday's 5-3
loss to the Phillies when catcher Kyle Schwarber singled to right in
the bottom of the first. Center fielder Dexter Fowler, who drew a
leadoff walk, moved to third and scored on third baseman Kris
Bryant's subsequent sacrifice to right.
Fowler added a solo home run -- his ninth homer of the season --
with two out in the third inning, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
The Phillies replied with three runs in the fourth. Left fielder
Cody Asche tripled to open the inning and scored on Brown's double
to right. Brown then came in on catcher Cameron Rupp's double to
deep center.
Nola also joined the hit parade with an RBI single -- his career
first -- that brought home Rupp with one out for a 6-2 lead.
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Hammel departed in favor of left-hander Travis Wood with two out in
the fourth. Hammel allowed six earned runs on eight hits, walked one
and struck out three.
"My role today was just garbage, unacceptable," Hammel said. "Just
too many pitches up in the zone and didn't really stick with the
game plan at all. They came out swinging and obviously things are
going right for them right now."
Brown's two-out triple off Wood in the fifth inning made it 8-2 as
he drove in first baseman Ryan Howard and shortstop Freddy Galvis.
Franco's sixth inning double to deep right scored Hernandez to make
it 9-2. Howard sent a one-out home run shot -- his 18th homer of the
season and second in two days -- to drive home Herrera for an 11-2
lead in the eighth off right-handed reliever Yoervis Medina.
With Nola still on the mound in the eighth, Cubs shortstop Addison
Russell narrowed the margin to 11-4 with his sixth homer of the
season.
Nola, who departed with two out for Phillies left hander Elvis
Araujo, allowed four runs on five hits, struck out six and walked a
pair.
Chicago catcher David Ross came on to pitch the ninth and worked a
one-two-three inning. He then led off the Cubs ninth with a solo
home run to left.
"My goal was to throw it right down the middle," Ross said. "I know
how hard hitting is judging from my batting average. I just try to
throw it and hope they hit at somebody."
NOTES: LHP Cole Hamels' Saturday no-hitter against the Cubs included
13 strikeouts, the most in a Phillies no-hitter dating back to 1906
and was the first no-hitter against Chicago since the Dodgers' Sandy
Koufax turned the feat in 1965 -- a span of 7,920 games. ... C
Carlos Ruiz caught his fourth career no-hitter and joined Jason
Varitek as the only two major league catchers on the receiving end
of four no-hitters. ... Philadelphia has Monday off and travels to
Toronto for a two-game interleague series starting Tuesday. ... The
Phillies will send LHP Adam Morgan (1-2, 4.28 ERA) against the Blue
Jays, who have not yet announced their Tuesday starter. ... The
Cubs' homestand continues Monday as LHP Kyle Hendricks (4-5, 3.66
ERA) faces Colorado LHP Jorge De La Rosa (6-4, 4.62 ERA) in the
opener of a three-game series. He'll be the ninth lefty the Cubs
have faced in a 17-game span going back to July 7.
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