Phillies-Cubs game delivers goosebumps in third inning
The seagulls showed up at Wrigley Field about an hour or so before the first pitch Monday night. Apparently, they didn’t check the schedule.
Prime feeding time is after a day game, when they can feast on all the scraps left by the bleacher crowd. Nothing doing before a night game.
The lone Canadian goose made its appearance in the third inning, sauntering slowly across the outfield lawn until assuming a position behind shortstop, about where you’d imagine a rover playing softball in Grant Park. The intruder’s feathers were ruffled by Michael Busch’s line-drive single that landed in its general vicinity, prompting an emergency takeoff.
The one bird that failed to show up on cue? It wouldn’t have been a shock to spot a vulture, not with the Phillies taking over for the Mets as the latest visitor to come to town burdened by a losing streak.
The Mets slunk back to New York losers of 11 in a row after being swept by the Cubs during the weekend. The Phillies? They’re at six and counting after falling 5-1 to the Cubs.
After losing Sunday in Philly, former Cubs slugger-turned-Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber had offered a brave front.
‘‘Just take it on the chin and keep moving,’’ he said.
Well, the Phillies took it on the chin again, no one more than right-hander Aaron Nola, the erstwhile ace encountering hard times these days. The Cubs touched him for five runs on six hits, including a three-run home run by Dansby Swanson, and four walks. Nearly a month into the season, his ERA stands at 5.06.
Central casting
Despite winning their last six games, the Cubs have not opened any distance between themselves and their rivals in the National League Central.
The victory against the Phillies lifted them out of a fourth-place tie with the Brewers into a three-way tie for second, a game and a half behind the division-leading Reds.
All five teams in the division have a winning record. The deepest into the season the NL Central has gone with all five teams having a winning record is May 29, 2004, according to SportRadar.
‘‘You’re allowed to assess it whenever you want,’’ manager Craig Counsell said when he was asked whether it was too early to assess the strength of the division. ‘‘I think all five teams are playing well. It’s 20 games. It means something. It means they’ve played well.’’’
Hoerner honored
Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner was named NL player of the week for the first time, coming off a week in which he batted .346 (9-for-26), with two home runs, two stolen bases and 11 RBI. His 21 RBI overall were tied for the major-league lead entering play Monday.
‘‘He had a wonderful week,’’ Counsell said.
Counsell also said injured reliever Hunter Harvey (inflamed triceps) has yet to resume throwing.