Realmuto's late homer lifts Phillies over Cubs

[May 21, 2019]  J.T. Realmuto hit a solo homer with two outs in the 10th inning on Monday night and the visiting Philadelphia Phillies held on for a 5-4 win against the Chicago Cubs in the opener of their four-game series.

With a 1-2 count, Realmuto lifted a fastball over the wall in left-center off left-handed reliever Kyle Ryan (0-1) to break the tie.

The Phillies had tied the score with two outs in the ninth after the Cubs had scored three runs in the eighth to take a 4-3 lead.

Jean Segura hit a soft single over the head of leaping first baseman Anthony Rizzo to tie the score at 4-4.

Against Phillies reliever Seranthony Dominguez in the eighth, Daniel Descalso hit a game-tying two-run triple, and he scored on a throwing error on the same play to give the Cubs a 4-3 lead.

Descalso's one-out line drive to left-center skipped between outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Odubel Herrera and rolled to the wall. The relay throw from Segura went off the foot of Descalso as he slid headfirst into third and the ball went into the stands, allowing Descalso to score the go-ahead run.

Dominguez was trying to hold the lead for starter Jake Arrieta, who was making his first appearance against Chicago, where he played from 2013-17, winning an NL Cy Young Award in 2015 and helping the Cubs win a World Series the next season.

Arrieta went six innings, allowing one run and eight hits while striking out four and walking two.

Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) warms up prior to a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

Hector Neris (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the win, and Juan Nicasio got the final two outs for his first save.

Cesar Hernandez had three hits and two RBIs for the Phillies.

Chicago starter Yu Darvish sailed through five innings before giving up three runs in the sixth. He was finished after that inning, allowing three runs and four hits with seven strikeouts and three walks.

Rizzo had three hits and Jason Heyward and Albert Almora Jr. had two each for the Cubs.

Realmuto had tied the score with an RBI single in the sixth before Hernandez followed with a two-run triple for a 3-1 lead.

The Cubs had taken a 1-0 lead in the third on an RBI single by Rizzo.

--Field Level Media

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