Wild pitch lifts Cubs over Phillies
Chicago, IL - Matt Murton scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Chicago Cubs over the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4, and into first place in the National League Central Division.
Murton opened the ninth with a double off Brett Myers (1-3), then advanced to third on a wild pitch before Ronny Cedeno drew a free pass and Jacque Jones was intentionally walked, loading the bases. Jason Kendall struck out, but on a 1-0 count to pinch-hitter Cliff Floyd, Myers bounced the offering in front of the plate and it caromed toward the backstop, allowing Murton to trot home with the winning run.
Derrek Lee doubled twice and scored a pair of runs, while Murton finished 2- for-4 and also knocked in a run for Chicago, which has won four of five and is locked in a virtual tie with Milwaukee for first place in the Central. The Brewers lost to the New York Mets, 8-5, on Wednesday.
Ryan Dempster (2-3) earned the win after escaping a bases-loaded jam in the top of the ninth. Dempster combined with four other relievers, allowing just one hit over 4 1/3 innings to bail out starter Rich Hill, who gave up four runs — three earned — and eight hits over 4 2/3 frames.
Jimmy Rollins went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, and Aaron Rowand homered for the injury-riddled Phils, who have dropped back-to-back games in the series after taking the opener on Monday night.
Philadelphia starter Jamie Moyer labored through five innings, allowing four runs and nine hits. Moyer, who walked two and fanned six, threw 100 pitches — just 62 for strikes.
The Phils grabbed the lead in the first on a wild pitch from Hill with the bases loaded.
Chicago, however, came right back in the bottom half. Lee doubled to center with two outs, Mark DeRosa walked and Murton’s single off the glove of a diving Rollins plated Lee to make it a 1-1 game.
Hill helped his own cause with an RBI single in the second, giving the Cubs a 2-1 lead, and Chicago added two more in the third while continuing to hit Moyer hard.
Lee ripped a leadoff double to left, his second of the game, and scored on Cedeno’s two-out single. Cedeno then came around on a double by Jones to make it 4-1.
Philadelphia, however, scored three times in the fifth to tie the game. Tadahito Iguchi doubled, Rollins knocked him in with a single, and Ryan Howard followed with a run-scoring double before he was cut down trying to advance to third. Rowand came up next and launched his 16th homer of the season, and second of the series, to make it 4-4.
Game Notes
Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth (strained left wrist) was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday…Howard has struck out in nine of his last 15 plate appearances…The Phillies fell four games behind the Mets in the NL East…Attendance was 40,558…The series concludes Thursday afternoon.
