Brandon Marsh hit a three-run double, Nick Castellanos and Bryson Stott each collected three hits and the Philadelphia Phillies topped the visiting Chicago Cubs 9-6 on Wednesday. Castellanos, Trea Turner and Kody Clemens homered for Philadelphia (94-65), which clinched a first-round bye in the National League playoffs with their win combined with the Milwaukee Brewers' loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Phillies also are keeping a close eye on the Los Angeles Dodgers (93-64) - who face the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night - in the race for the NL's top seed.
Philadelphia wrapped up its home schedule with a major league-best 54-27 record despite impressive performances from Chicago's Isaac Paredes and Nico Hoerner. Paredes went 4-for-5 for the Cubs (81-78), while Hoerner hit a pair of home runs - his sixth and seventh of the campaign. The Phillies jumped out to an early lead in the first inning against Javier Assad (7-6).
Turner's 20th home run made it 1-0 before Stott's two-run double increased the advantage to 3-0. Castellanos' 23rd homer extended the lead to 4-0 in the third, but Hoerner answered with a three-run shot against Cristopher Sanchez in the fourth to bring Chicago within a run. The offenses continued to exchange runs, as Clemens responded with a solo shot before the Cubs countered with Cody Bellinger's RBI single.
That hit ended the night for Sanchez, who allowed four runs (three earned) and five hits in 4 2/3 innings. Sanchez walked one and fanned four. Phil.
