Cody Bellinger scores 4 runs in the Cubs’ win over the Phillies

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Cody Bellinger hit a triple, two singles and scored four runs as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-4 on Tuesday night.

Kyle Schwarber hit his 38th home run of the season and Bryce Harper hit his 30th for the Phillies, who clinched their first NL East title in 13 years on Monday night. Manager Rob Thomson played his regular lineup without catcher JT Realmuto as Philadelphia tries to secure home-field advantage in the NL playoffs.

The Phillies (93-65) have four games left and need to finish at least tied with the Brewers to get a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Milwaukee beat Pittsburgh on Tuesday night to move within 2 1/2 games of the Phillies.

Philadelphia can also secure home-field advantage through the NL Championship Series by finishing the season tied or ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who entered the season with a 93-63 record on Tuesday night.

After Harper gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead in the first by hitting 30 home runs for the fifth time in his career, Philadelphia dug a huge hole in the second when Tanner Banks (2-3) and Taijuan Walker combined to allow six runs.

Walker, who signed a four-year, $72 million free agent contract ahead of the 2023 season, entered the game with the bases loaded and one out and was loudly booed, especially after allowing two consecutive walks with the bases loaded. Phillies fans’ displeasure grew even louder when Seiya Suzuki hit a two-run single.

Philadelphia got a run back in the bottom of the inning on Garrett Stubbs’ RBI bunt single. Stubbs dove over Bellinger and into first base.

The Cubs won the game with four more runs in the sixth inning, with Bellinger’s triple to right field that cleared all bases being the highlight.

Drew Smyly (4-8) threw a scoreless inning as a replacement for Cubs starter Justin Steele, who allowed two runs in four innings.

Dansby Swanson hit two doubles for Chicago and Pete Crow-Armstrong had three hits.

Schwarber hit a home run in the eighth inning, a two-run shot.

TRAINING ROOM

Cubs: 1B Michael Busch (right triceps bruise) did not play in the second inning after being hit by a pitch in the top of the inning.

Phillies: LF Austin Hays returned to the lineup after being sidelined since Sept. 1 with a kidney infection. Hays went 1 for 4.

Next

The teams end their three-game series on Wednesday night when Cubs RHP Javier Assad (7-5, 3.34 ERA) faces Phillies LHP Cristopher Sánchez (11-9, 3.25).