Chicago Cubs complete three-game sweep of the Phillies with 7-2 win

After the Chicago Cubs took the first two games of this weekend series, the Philadelphia Phillies sent one of their top pitchers to the mound. Chicago jumped all over him early, scoring all seven runs in five innings.

Second baseman Ben Zobrist continued his hot streak by not only extending his hitting streak to 15 by swatting a three-run homer in the bottom half of the third inning. Zobrist finished the game 1-for-4 with two strikeouts but did enough to help back John Lackey in the 7-2 victory.

Lackey (5-2, 3.16 ERA) turned in another solid performance for the Chicago Cubs (34-14), holding the Phillies (26-24) to one earned run on four hits, four walks, and six strikeouts in seven innings of work.

Vincent Velasquez (5-2, 3.63 ERA) appeared to be Philadelphia’s best shot at salvaging the series but gave up a handful of runs. Chicago tagged him for seven runs on nine hits, two homers, two walks and six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings of work.

With the Cubs leading 7-0 in the top of the seventh and two outs in the frame, Lackey left a slider hanging over the plate.

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At the time, Tyler Goeddel was in the batter’s box and turned on the pitch, sending it out to left field for his second home run of the season, cutting Lackey’s lead down to six.

Philadelphia went the first two games of the series without a home run but received two late in today’s game. One came via Goeddel and the other came off Justin Grimm in the top of the ninth when Tommy Joseph homered on a line drive to center field.

Outfielder Dexter Fowler, who homered to lead-off yesterday’s contest, got things going with a single to center field and advanced to second on Jason Heyward‘s hit moments later.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo would come through with a base knock to drive in the first run of the ballgame shortly after Kris Bryant struck out swinging. Zobrist would ground into an inning-ending double-play just two pitches later.

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Veteran catcher Miguel Montero cranked his second home run of the season to deep right field in the second inning, giving Lackey an early 2-0 lead. Montero later added his second RBI of the game on a single to left field, scoring Bryant from second.

Next up for the Cubs will be the Los Angeles Dodgers who take on the New York Mets, later on, tonight.