Aaron Nola’s strong seven-inning performance wasn’t enough to lead the Phillies to a nine-inning victory on Sunday night, but they squeaked out a 3-1 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field in 10 innings after the offense woke up in the extra frame.
Max Kepler and J.T. Realmuto both worked walks against Cubs right-hander Julian Merryweather to start the top half of the 10th. With the bases now loaded, Alec Bohm, who’s been swinging a better bat over the last week-and-a-half, stepped to the plate. Bohm drove a first-pitch fastball from Merryweather to deep right field for a sac fly, putting the Phillies ahead 2-1.
One run usually isn’t enough in extra innings. And after a botched suicide squeeze attempt by Johan Rojas, the Phillies were close to walking away with just one run in the top of the 10th. But Bryson Stott worked another walk against Merryweather, loading the bases again.
This time, it was Trea Turner up to bat. Turner chopped a 1-2 pitch toward third baseman Vidal Bruján, who fielded the ball beyond the bag and took his time firing to first base. Turner’s speed was no match for Bruján’s lack of urgency. The Phillies’ shortstop legged out a single, driving in his second run of the night to give his club a 3-1 lead.
After Orion Kerkering and José Alvarado each fired scoreless innings in relief of Nola, who allowed one run on three hits in seven innings, Rob Thomson called upon Jordan Romano for the bottom of the 10th.
Romano worked a 13-pitch inning, firing 10 strikes. He faced just three batters and recorded the save, his second of the season.
The Phillies leave Chicago with a series win over the Cubs and a 15-13 record on the year.
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