The Phillies’ offense flexed its muscles for a change on Tuesday night in a 9-8 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park.
With eight runs and 13 hits, the Phillies matched their run total of the last three games, while snapping a five-game losing streak.
The victory is just the Phillies’ third in the 16 games since the All-Star break. At 51-61, the Phillies remained 17 games out in the NL East.
But the game was not without its drama. Closer Jonathan Papelbon struggled again in the ninth inning, allowing three runs to score in a non-save situation.
Starting pitching report
Kyle Kendrick made it through six innings, allowing five runs on six hits without a walk. In his last six starts, Kendrick has allowed 28 runs (25 earned) in 31 2/3 innings with 44 hits, five homers and 14 strikeouts.
During that six-game stretch, Kendrick is 3-3 with a 7.11 ERA.
MLB
For the Cubs, Edwin Jackson allowed seven runs on 10 hits and two walks in just five innings. Jackson struggled with his command, throwing 51 of his 92 pitches for strikes and surrendering a homer, three doubles and a triple.
Bullpen report
Lefty Jake Diekman allowed a hit and notched two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings before turning it over to Justin De Fratus with one out in the eighth. De Fratus gave up an infield single and a broken-bat bloop single before settling down to retire the last two hitters of the eighth.
Papelbon gave up three runs -- two earned -- along with three hits and a walk.
At the plate
Playing right field for the first time in his life, Darin Ruf went 2 for 3 with his fourth home run and an RBI double. Fellow rookie Cody Asche also had a pair of hits, including his first big-league, extra-base hit and a pair of runs.
Meanwhile, Dom Brown returned from the seven-day disabled list for a concussion and had two RBIs. Chase Utley also had two RBIs to go with two singles and a triple. Carlos Ruiz capped off the scoring with solo homer in the eighth.
The 12 hits are the most in a game for the Phillies since getting 15 against the Mets on July 19.
The Cubs scored four runs in the second inning on the strength of a three-run homer by No. 8 hitter, Donnie Murphy. It was Murphy’s first homer of the season in just his second game. Anthony Rizzo capped off the Cubs’ scoring with a solo homer in the third inning.
Up next
The series continues on Wednesday night when Cole Hamels (4-13, 3.87) faces Travis Wood (7-8, 3.05). Hamels is coming off a tough-luck no-decision against the Giants in which he scattered seven hits and a walk for eight innings of shutout ball. Hamels was in line for the win until Papelbon allowed two runs in the ninth of a 2-1 loss.
Hamels is 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA in six starts against the Cubs, though he has not faced them since 2010.
Wood has faced the Phillies twice during his career. The first time, in Wood’s third career start, he came within three outs of getting a perfect game on July 10, 2010 for the Reds at Citizens Bank Park. Ruiz broke up the no-hitter to lead off the ninth. Ruiz doubled again in the 11th inning to set up the only run of the game in a 1-0 victory for the Phillies.