In Thursday afternoon MLB action, the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs will wrap up their three-game series from Wrigley Field. The Phillies took Tuesday night’s opener, but couldn’t close the door late during last night’s dramatic 7-5 loss. Aaron Altherr homered and drove in three runs for Philadelphia, who trails Washington by 2.5 games for the NL East Division lead.
Twenty-five year old righty Nick Pivetta (4-4 3.48 ERA) will head to the hill for the Phillies in this contest. Pivetta has dropped consecutive starts and has allowed five runs over his last nine frames.
In many ways last night was not looking like the Chicago Cubs’ night, until OF Jason Heyward changed all of that with one swing. Heyward crushed a walk-off grand slam off Philadelphia RP Adam Morgan to send the Wrigley faithful home happy. Anthony Rizzo added his ninth home run of the season for the Cubs, who trail Milwaukee by a full game for the NL Central Division lead.
Chicago skipper Joe Maddon will turn to twenty-eight year old righty Tyler Chatwood (3-4 4.02 ERA) on Thursday. Control has been the issue for Chatwood,who has walked 49 batters in just 53 plus innings.
