Christopher Morel's 3-run blast powers Cubs past Phillies
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[September 29, 2022] Christopher
Morel hit a tie-breaking three-run homer in the fifth inning, and
fellow rookie Hayden Wesneski allowed one run while pitching into
the sixth Wednesday night, as the host Chicago Cubs won 4-2 over the
skidding Philadelphia Phillies, who have dropped four straight.
With the game tied 1-1 and two on, Morel got enough of an Aaron Nola
pitch to line the ball into the left-field basket. Morel, who
homered in Chicago's 2-1 victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday, ranks
among the rookie leaders with 16 homers and helped his team to a
third straight win and seventh in eight games.
Meanwhile, in his third career start, Wesneski (3-1) yielded only a
Bryce Harper sacrifice fly and six hits, while walking two and
striking out three before leaving with no outs and a man on in the
sixth. However, the Cubs (69-86) got solid work from four relievers
to hand the Phillies (83-71), trying to hold off Milwaukee (83-72)
for the final NL wild-card spot, a ninth loss in 12 games -- and
extend their season-high road skid to six in a row.
All four runs allowed by Nola (10-13) were earned. He also yielded
five hits and fanned eight without a walk, but his Philadelphia
teammates stranded 12 men and went 2-for-16 with runners in scoring
position. Nick Castellanos had three hits for the Phillies, who are
0-5 vs. Chicago in 2022.
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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Hayden Wesneski (19) delivers against
the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Wrigley Field.
Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
With one out in the third, Wesneski hit Kyle
Schwarber and allowed a single to Rhys Hoskins (3-for-4). With
Wesneski not paying attention, Schwarber swiped third standing up
and scored on Harper's sacrifice fly to left.
Nola, meanwhile, was rolling until the fifth, when the Cubs broke
out. Nico Hoerner singled, stole second and went to third on Patrick
Wisdom's hit. Hoerner eventually scored when the Phillies failed to
turn a double play on Yan Gomes' grounder. Then after Nola hit
Alfonso Rivas, Morel went deep.
The Phillies got a run back in the seventh off Mark Leiter Jr., when
Schwarber doubled and later came home on Harper's groundout.
Manny Rodriguez earned his fourth save, and second in as many
nights.
--Field Level Media
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