Butler Homers, Sears Pitches A's To Series Sweep Of Angels With 5-0 Win
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
5351fbf1da9cd8a6d0cfb3a3a4bca3c1 835ced7a545cc15a864d2eaf580f89dc Punk 01 524x1024.webp5c627f66cab9d678b698254a2aeb392b 5c9bf4403cebe37d3ea4923004234bbb Hq720 ?sqp= OaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLBn1ZKicyo Ky1yu47 E54P F2DHQ0af8a6181afb443e77c4edfd7ba549a1 F3f32f13b6b564d98ef8122ef4c49f39 21492e92bc8cbec4a718c03acb2f0e36 Punk.webpC6a9b8bdbc006589e0f426b599e2d130 40b3949ff003425132578e6a4b705639 Fa0c9ce80a5b0f5ecba9a2d11d27bafa 693d1d6eb5f9b4f2ffb121163dad265e 1702315292 Punk Rock Holiday 2024 9c52e05c9b1095e2a2c16d55900a6e14 B34a54a7d0334c3490b07488d3c3072b C7d606eeaf737b5dd01a106c54d45d2e Winter Fashion Outfits Winter Outfits 51b747024dd3db97dc943db20d3c9626 02e5d0e5d14ed5a1e597a8761a4cee96 A0f38e1ebff666ceb9e9d5a4aa0b784a B4320a19f89c319e0e98e97e71558bf0 Punk Rock Girls 48e5bc3a372b94ab9d66b4bcf3be3681 Hey Ho Lets Go Rocker Fashion 7cd708aa4e8db4e5f339107c4ffea351 F6b48c7205fea3eadaebe4631c3debf9 8337fd6a9ebeb2a47916ddd294adc205 61f47412c0086572ff2bbb49459b3300 04a9e5b02b9f24f60c6e8d527971f8e9 Defb72422523d5cffddc2eddc30cfffb Punk Rock Fashion 1a13251fadbe1f638edd99027c83833b Cb8d784d90729ddde74d0624ef29bdd5 Bc5ef4dc44951d0411d4c9f88bfafd74
Butler Homers, Sears Pitches A's To Series Sweep Of Angels With 5-0 Win
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
