The Phillies found themselves in trouble early, as right-hander Vince Velasquez left the game after just two pitches because of soreness in his right biceps.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Troubling signs for Velasquez: The Phillies had concerns about Velasquez's durability before they acquired him from Houston in December, but they hope this injury is not serious. But clearly something was wrong. His fastball registered just 86 and 87 mph on the radar gun, which was a considerable drop from his 95 mph average for the season.
Velasquez exits the game
CHC@PHI: Velasquez leaves game with apparent injury
Vince Velasquez leaves the game with right biceps soreness after facing only one batter against the Cubs
Zobrist snaps slump, scores: Ben Zobrist had been in the midst of an 0-for-18 slump before he singled in the fifth inning. After he advanced to second on a Brett Oberholtzer throwing error, Javier Baez drove him in for the first run of the game. Zobrist broke out in a big way the next inning, launching an Andrew Bailey cutter over the right-center-field wall for his eighth home run of the season. The 18 hitless at-bats amounted to Zobrist's second-longest stretch of the season.
Zobrist's solo shot
CHC@PHI: Zobrist hammers a solo home run to center
Ben Zobrist lines a solo homer to center field to give the Cubs a 4-0 lead in the top of the 6th inning
Lackey makes Phils his lackies: When Lackey was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth, he hadn't allowed a hit since the second inning. That didn't stop Joe Maddon from giving him the hook after 100 pitches and seven shutout innings, though. Lackey's final pitch fooled Ryan Howard, who attempted to check before becoming the right-hander's eighth and final punchout. The Phillies threatened in the first, but Odubel Herrera was nabbed by Albert Almora to end the inning. After that, the only Phillie to reach base against Lackey was Cody Asche, on a single in the second.
Oberholtzer relieves: Oberholtzer warmed up quickly in the top of the first inning and pitched pretty well in relief, allowing just one unearned run in four innings of work. Bailey allowed homers to Bryant and Zobrist in the sixth to give the Cubs a 4-0 lead.
ALMORA'S FIRST START
After making his Major League debut on Tuesday night, pinch-hitting and grounding out, Almora made his first MLB start in Wednesday's game, playing left field. Almora recorded his first MLB hit in the eighth inning with a single up the middle that drove home Anthony Rizzo. He also made a laser of a throw (91 mph, per Statcast™) to nail Herrera trying to score on a sac fly in the first inning.
Almora's first career knock
CHC@PHI: Almora plates Rizzo for first MLB hit
Albert Almora hits a grounder that deflects off Colton Murray's glove, resulting in an RBI single to tally the first MLB hit of his career
WHAT'S NEXT
Cubs: Chicago has an off-day on Thursday before opening a three-game set in Atlanta at 6:35 p.m. CT on Friday. Jason Hammel (7-1, 2.14 ERA) starts the opening game of the series against Bud Norris (1-7, 5.28 ERA).
Phillies: The Phillies do not play Thursday, but they resume action Friday night in a three-game series against the Nationals at Nationals Park at 7:05 ET. Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (4-3, 3.80 ERA) pitches the series opener. Right-hander Aaron Nola (5-4, 2.65 ERA) and left-hander Adam Morgan (1-5, 6.70 ERA) pitch Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.
Todd Zolecki has covered the Phillies since 2003, and for MLB.com since 2009. Read his Phillies blog The Zo Zone, follow him on Twitter and listen to his podcast.
Evan Webeck is a reporter for MLB.com based in Philadelphia and covered the Cubs on Wednesday.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Lackey spins gem as Cubs rout Phils in finale
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