Ryno returns, pitching meltdowns abound, and the Cubs lose to the Phillies

Aug 29, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager

(23) makes a pitching change against the New York Mets during the sixth inning of a game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

On a sweltering day at Wrigley, the Chicago Cubs have lost to the Philadelphia Phillies.  In what was touted as the “Return of Ryno;” owing to his position as manager of the Phillies, the former Cubs star did not disappoint.  The final score was 6-5 in favor of the Phillies, and that team improves to 62-74 and the Cubs drop to 56-78 for the season.  The wind was blowing straight out today which set the stage for some offensive fireworks for both teams with multiple base hits and home runs.

Roy Halladay did little to prove his full recovery today, going just 5 innings and giving up 7 hits for 5 runs.  His pitch total on the day was 77 with 48 strikes, an ERA of 7.9and was marred by severe control problems.  At no point was this more apparent than in the 2nd inning where he managed to plunk Brian Bogusevic and then also hit the very next batter, Darwin Barney.  Balls were in the dirt, behind the batters, everywhere except the strike zone, seemingly. Halladay is returning from shoulder surgery earlier in the year.

Jeff Samardzjia put up a strong start until the 6th inning when he also began to develop control problems with his pitches. After having been worked over by the Phillies to the tune of 11 hits and 9 runs the last time he faced them, he improved to 8 hits and 5 runs for 103 pitches with 62 strikes.  He finished his day with a 4.13 ERA, being pulled in the 7th after allowing the game to become tied. James Russell replaced him and managed to get out of a two inherited runners jam. Pedro Strop replaced Russell in the 8th and dispatched the last two batters, Carlos Ruiz and Darin Ruf. Kevin Gregg came in for the 9th and ended up giving up a run.

The Cubs began their scoring early with a two out solo homer by Anthony Rizzo in the first. It was his 21st of the season.  Nate Schierholtz also hit a solo homer, his 20th, in the 4th.  Next, Donnie Murphy doubled and a sac fly by Darwin Barney and a sac bunt by Samardzjia put Bogusevic and Murphy on 3rd and second respectively. Starlin Castro hit his 27th double of the season and brought them both in, making it 4-0 going into the 5th.  Brian Bogusevic hit an attempted double that managed to score Rizzo in the 5th, making it 5-0.

Then it all managed to go pear-shaped for the Cubs.  Shark’s aforementioned 6th inning meltdown started off with a Kevin Fransden triple, giving up a hit to Michael Young and walking Jimmy Rollins.  Chase Utley then hit a triple and was scored on a Domonic Brown groundout himself, and that brought it to 5-4, still in the Cubs favor.  Then it came to the 7th inning with a Kevin Fransden two out solo blast to tie the game and that was it for Samardzjia.

The Cubs had a chance to score in the 7th but that came to an end with Dioner Navarro being tagged out at home.

In the 9th, Kevin Gregg hit Roger Bernadina with a pitch. This proved to be a problem as an overthrow to second allowed him to steal that base, and a Michael Young single brought him around to score.  This proved to be too much for the Cubs to deal with and the Phillies took the game 6-5.

The Cubs try to bounce back at 3:05 pm central time and will feature Phillies ace Cliff Lee (11-6, 3.07ERA) against the Cubs’ Chris Rusin (2-3, 2.64ERA).