Man United Extend Ten Hag Deal Through 2026
CHICAGO -- — Ian Happ hit three-run homers from both sides of the plate for a career-high six RBI, and the struggling Chicago Cubs pounded the major league-leading Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 to avoid a three-game sweep on Thursday.
The Cubs came into the season expecting to contend for the NL Central championship. Instead, they're last in the division. But they gave the Wrigley Field crowd of 40,143 plenty to cheer on July Fourth.
“We know how much this fan base expects and how much they deserve,” Happ said. “They come out every single day no matter what. They deserve a really good baseball team, and I think we all in this clubhouse believe that we have that in the tank. It’s been a tough stretch. But you have a game like today where you put up 10 and feel really good about it, let’s see if we can keep that rolling.”
Chicago trailed 2-0 when Happ connected from the right side against starter Cristopher Sánchez during a five-run fourth inning. Happ struck again batting left-handed in the fifth against Seranthony Domínguez, making it 8-2 and giving him 14 career multi-homer games.
It was the second time Happ went deep from both sides of the plate. He also singled and doubled to finish 4 for 4.
Happ got off to a slow start this season. But over 35 games since May 26, he is second in the majors with 36 RBI.
“You're going to have times when things don't feel right," he said. “When the wind's blowing in, you're hitting things straight into the wind or you're striking out. Part of that is believing that you're going to hit one of those hot streaks and get back on track. For me personally, that was early in the year. The first six weeks were a struggle and really difficult and challenging, and believing that I was going to get to that place where I right the ship.”
Jameson Taillon (5-4) pitched seven innings, allowing two runs and four hits. The right-hander struck out seven and walked none.
Seiya Suzuki scored three times and the Cubs came away with an easy win after dropping eight of 10. They also stopped a seven-game losing streak against the Phillies dating to last season.
Philadelphia’s Brandon Marsh singled home a run in the first. Nick Castellanos made it 2-0 in the fourth with a rocket to left-center for his 12th home run, but Sánchez (6-4) simply didn’t have it coming off a shutout against Miami last week and his first career complete game.
The left-hander got tagged for seven runs and seven hits after going 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA in his previous three starts. He exited with none out in the fifth after Cody Bellinger and Suzuki singled.
Happ broke open the game when he greeted Domínguez with a drive to right for his 13th homer. He became the first Cubs player to connect from both sides since Victor Caratini in a loss at Pittsburgh on July 3, 2019.
“Ian had some huge swings,” manager Craig Counsell said. “We got men on base in front of him for those swings. Two three-run homers puts a smile on everybody's face, for sure.”
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: RHP Mark Leiter Jr. (strained forearm) will likely face hitters within the next few days, assuming no setbacks following his bullpen session on Wednesday, pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said. Hottovy had not spoken to Leiter. ... Hottovy said RHP Yency Almonte (strained right shoulder) will probably decide “in the next day or so” between surgery or a strengthening program. Almonte has been out since May 7.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola (9-4, 3.43 ERA) gets the ball Friday as the Phillies open a three-game series at Atlanta, while the Braves go with LHP Max Fried (7-3, 2.91). Nola is coming off a loss to Miami in which he gave up three runs in 6 2/3 innings. Fried has a 1.56 ERA in his past three starts.
Cubs: Open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels, with LHP Justin Steele (0-3, 3.20 ERA) starting for Chicago. Steele went six innings and allowed three runs in the Cubs' win at Milwaukee on Saturday.
------
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
E5c74c607d6788f98dfb7237e6a7c566 B63773dbcd786796121baf0f0746d12e 042baf7918e4bc75377927e0310f6f31 37fbc15801319aa19987886d525c8cd2 83176939da1be1da31506fd5aab6803c 65cdd4e82a0d93c4bcfc1b96 Crowded House Gravity Stairs D501ac92b4a6756ad3ed84e7cd2c3496 F16f9a8da74e0f873fde857aebccf023 19 Staircase Wall Decor Ideas 2024 1 020228944aeb17a3909b03c5e52c8d1a Dddff503a813e9512b37bf387ed436df B03ed15ee9de45fc5771fde6366315e1 Ab0a3e312a636b1a9d55776f90172baa F01e6025fd7ead6b0d19454c2709ae3a 87f5c1a06d57469183226ef9b9b29c75 C621f254abc34a892aafa18fd5c99258 49eebf3ed61bd87012a72b7b2416841c Bd778c1af3f2f8afdd142ad36cca3367 5c452903d6ccc4e85602d89ac621a80d Cf665513f8912d2000c81fc9b147646b 8ec16832384ccffbe2e8eb36aaccc38e 7ece074965b1070f226470969ad143c9 12eefbca74c8b695e594d4e78b1a9195 158ce05a74232ab62737486754bee1fd Fcb4599a4eca70e646b6497342f873f1 Abc15a9e02431ad1 3814 W720 H720 B2 P0 24ac15db7d6d4de797ee8fa0f8e3c502 88568e929440807b4296ae1ef1396455 09 Stairway Decorating Ideas Homebnc 1023x1536 Stairway Decorating Ideas Featured Homebnc 351x185 C1063e435fe543c0969ccd191d731f26 Staircase Omnia Group Architects Img~11a12c2c024dd03e 3932 1 09e481e W360 H360 B0 P0 49ff0741c5653000a93d899538749a00 Staircase Wall Decorating Ideas Stairs Designs Img~50918f06033d3bde 3907 1 76ef6a2 W360 H360 B0 P0