The Phillies are 17-5 in their last 22 games
Nick Castellanos, Edmundo Sosa and Josh Harrison homered and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs 8-5 on Wednesday night.
Castellanos hit a three-run homer in the second off Drew Smyly (7-5) after Sosa launched a two-run shot earlier in the inning. Castellanos also hustled out an RBI double and scored in a two-run fourth.
"I was a little bit out front because Smyly was throwing a whole bunch of off-speed pitches," said Castellanos, who played for Chicago in 2019 and has 13 homers in 45 games at Wrigley Field. "I was just able to stay back on that one (homer) and get enough on it. … It’s just good vibes in the city of Chicago."
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Philadelphia Phillies Nick Castellanos hits a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
Harrison added a solo homer in the fifth off Hayden Wesneski to make it 8-2, helping Philadelphia overcome a shaky start by Aaron Nola (7-5) to win for the 17th time in 22 games. The Phillies also won their eighth straight road game, matching their longest streak since 2011.
"Earlier in the year, we weren’t very good on the road, but now we’ve settled down," manager Rob Thomson said. "That West Coast trip we had where we won five of six was huge for us. It gave us some confidence on the road — I think it’s helped."
Nola allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings, after going at least six innings in 13 straight starts.
YANKEES PITCHER DOMINGO GERMÁN THROWS FIRST PERFECT GAME SINCE 2012, 24TH IN MLB HISTORY
Philadelphia Phillies Edmundo Sosa, right, high fives Josh Harrison (2) after they scored on Sosas two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
"I want to go as long as I can," Nola said. "I think five innings kind of stinks. It’s too short for a starter, in my opinion. I definitely take value in pitching deep in the game."
Chicago has lost three straight since winning nine of 10.
Smyly lasted just 3 2/3 innings and matched season highs by allowing seven runs and nine hits. Wesneski allowed just one run and two hits across 4 1/3 innings in Smyly’s relief.
"They had a couple hard hit balls, but it also just felt like they had a lot of soft contact that was falling in front," Smyly said. "Once the guys got on base, I just didn’t do a good job of stranding them. They were able to get the big hit."
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Drew Smyly (11) walks to the mound as Philadelphia Phillies Nick Castellanos celebrates his three-run home run, in the background, during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
GOING DEEP
Chicago’s Jared Young hit his first career homer in his first at-bat this season when he connected in the third, and Dansby Swanson added a solo drive in the fifth.
Making it even sweeter for Young, his brother and month-old niece were at the game from Canada. He got the ball back and was planning to give it to the baby.
"I was really fired up," Young said. "I know it was like a 4- or 5-0 ballgame at the time and we’ve just got to get runs and we’ve got to get baserunners. A good swing of the bat can help sometimes… It was just a really good moment for me."
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cubs: RHP Marcus Stroman — who left Sunday’s loss to St. Louis because of a blister on his right index finger — is scheduled to throw a bullpen Thursday. The Cubs do not expect him to miss a start. Manager David Ross said Stroman’s availability for the All-Star Game if he’s selected would be up to him "as long as he’s healthy." ... 3B Patrick Wisdom (sprained right wrist) was assigned to Triple-A Iowa on a rehab assignment. ... OF Seiya Suzuki was out of the lineup after he woke up with a stiff neck. … LHP Brandon Hughes underwent a surgical debridement on his left knee.
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola (27) delivers against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
UP NEXT
The three-game series wraps up with Phillies RHP Taijuan Walker (8-3, 4.10 ERA) facing Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (3-2, 2.60) in a matchup of surging starters. Walker has won four straight starts and Hendricks has won three in a row.
