Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (7/3/24): Phillies 5, Cubs 3 – Slide Continues Against Phillies

The Cubs lost a close game Wednesday night against the Phillies thanks to another one of the basic mistakes they have been repeatedly making during this very disappointing season.

Pete Crow-Armstrong gave Chicago the lead in the bottom of the 2nd with a bloop double off Zack Wheeler. Philadelphia then got that run right back when catcher Rafael Marchán took Shōta Imanaga deep for a solo shot in the 3rd.

PCA put the North Siders back ahead with a line-drive RBI double to left-center in the 4th. Alec Bohm hit a go-ahead two-run homer on Imanaga to make it 3-2 in the 6th. Cody Bellinger managed to even the score again in the 7th with a single against reliever Matt Strahm.

The Phillies got the first two runners on base with Tyson Miller on the mound to open up the next frame. A passed ball by Miguel Amaya allowed both men to advance to second and third with one out and Edmundo Sosa brought home the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly. Whit Merrifield tacked on an RBI single later in the inning to increase the margin to 5-3.

The Cubs got a couple runners on base in the final two frames but didn’t do much else losing by the same 5-3 score. (Box score)

Key Moment

The Cubs’ catching position has been a huge problem all season long. Amaya’s mistake may not have changed the final outcome, but it made things a little bit easier for a team that doesn’t need any help.

Why the Cubs Lost

They just can’t execute the plays necessary to win close games and it’s been the same story for weeks now.

Stats That Matter

• Imanaga pitched well enough to give his team a chance to win but it didn’t happen: 6 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 8 K, and 1 BB.
• Crow-Armstrong hasn’t hit much in the big leagues so it’s good to see him get a couple of extra-base hits Wednesday.
• Michael Busch had a pair of hits and continues to play well.

Bottom Line

The Cubs have now firmly entered look-ahead-to-next-year mode. There is no reason to keep young players on the bench or in Triple-A. Even though there won’t be much to sell at the deadline, any veterans who don’t have a future with Chicago should probably be moved out. It’s very disappointing that it’s gotten to this point in early July but that’s the reality of the situation.

On Deck

This series ends with a Fourth of July matinee at 1:20pm CT. Jameson Taillon goes up against Cristopher Sánchez in a game available on MLB Network (out of market only), Marquee, and 670 The Score.