Cubs Recap: Chicago falls to Phillies for second-straight loss

The Chicago Cubs tied things up in the seventh, but surrendered three unanswered runs late as the Philadelphia Phillies won by a 7-4 final Sunday.

For the second time in as many days, the Cubs bullpen faltered – this time, it was left-hander Clayton Richard who fell short, running into trouble in the seventh inning.

With one out in the inning, Aaron Altherr tripled against the Chicago left-hander with the score tied 4-4. Richard got Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard swinging for the second out of the inning, prompting a strategy meeting from pitching coach Chris Bosio.

Soon after, the southpaw uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Altherr to score what proved to be the game-winning tally. Philadelphia (56-88) added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth against Cubs rookie C.J. Edwards, who was charged with both tallies in his one inning of work.

Chicago right-hander Dan Haren struggled in his first start since turning in the best start of his brief Cubs career, allowing four earned on seven hits and three walks in just three innings of work.

Minus the wild pitch, Richard was solid for Chicago (82-60), allowing just one run in four innings of work – but the Phillies bullpen was stellar on Sunday, limiting the Cubs’ bats to just one unearned run in four innings of work.

Kris Bryant opened the scoring in the top of the first on a sharp ground ball through the left side that plated Chris Coghlan, who delivered a two-out triple to get things rolling.

Howard pulled the Phillies even in the bottom of the first on a sac fly before Cameron Rupp singled to put Philadelphia ahead 2-1. The slugging first baseman delivered again in the third, launching a two-run shot, his 22nd homer of the season.

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Chicago rookie Addison Russell helped Chicago chip away, driving in Starlin Castro in the fourth with an RBI single against Phillies starter Aaron Harang. Coghlan launched his 16th home run of the season in the fifth – making it a 4-3 game.

The Cubs tied things up in the seventh when Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez booted a chopper off the bat of Anthony Rizzo. The two collided at first, with Rizzo seemingly getting the better end of things.

What’s Next:

Chicago split the series with the Phillies and will now battle the Pirates in a pivotal four-game set spread across three days at PNC Park starting Tuesday afternoon.

First pitch for the opener is set for 12:35 p.m. CT from the Steel City.

Next: Cubs' Castro firing on all cylinders for upstart club