Read a recap of Philadelphia Phillies vs. Chicago Cubs on July 3, 2024 at PhilliesNation.com.
Final score: Phillies 5, Cubs 3
CHICAGO — A night ago, it was his power. On Wednesday, speed killed.
Fresh off a two-moonshot, four-RBI game against the Cubs in the series opener, 2024 National League All-Star starting shortstop Trea Turner put his wheels to use on Wednesday, leading to two key runs in a 5-3 win at Wrigley Field.
Turner led off the sixth inning with an infield single that most other players in baseball — perhaps all of those below the 95th percentile in sprint speed — don’t beat out. Turner did, meaning an ensuing 415-foot big fly from another newly minted All-Star starter in Alec Bohm counted for double, putting the Phillies ahead.
Hey now, you’re an All-Star
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Two innings later, the Cubs having tied the game against a struggling Matt Strahm in the seventh, Turner and Bohm advanced on a passed ball before the former scored on a sacrifice fly 261 feet to center field. Turner slid, as he does, but there was no play at the plate — and there might not have been even if the throw was on line. (The Phillies scored another run in the inning on a Whit Merrifield single.)
“I thought in Detroit I started to feel good,” Turner said postgame of his legs. “I knew it would take some time, and not every day you feel great. But today I felt like there were some plays where I needed to be quick and needed to have that next gear and went for it. And obviously everything’s good.”
Despite his 2-for-4, fleet-of-foot performance, though, Turner may not have been the player of the game for the Phillies. That title could well go to Rafael Marchan. His 414-foot solo homer tied the game at 1-1 in the third before he doubled in the fifth.
Since a hitless season debut, Marchan is hitting .281 with two doubles — and three homers that continue his inexplicable MLB-exclusive power surge.
“He likes the bright lights, I guess,” Thomson said postgame. “He’s a good-looking kid. He really is.”
The trio of Bohm, Turner and Marchan helped the Phillies emerge victorious in a moderate pitchers duel. Zack Wheeler allowed two runs in six innings, while onetime Phillies target Shōta Imanaga, a potential Cy Young competitor to a trio of Phillies, allowed three runs in six.
“It was a grind,” Wheeler said postgame. “Wasn’t my best and didn’t have my best, so I was out there just grinding a little bit. Marchan called a great game, gotta give him credit … He’s one of those guys that came in and stepped in and has done very well. I love throwing to him. He’s younger, but he knows how to call a game, which is nice. And he received it well. So gotta give him credit.”
Orion Kerkering threw a scoreless eighth and José Alvarado earned the save for the Phillies. The aforementioned Strahm gave up two hits in the seventh to tie the game, the lone blemish on the night for the bullpen. He’s been in a rut as of late.
No matter, for now. They’re 57-29.
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