Final Score: Phillies 8, Cubs 0
Somewhere, José Peraza smiles.
Joe Girardi’s decision to start Brad Miller and Travis Jankowski over Rhys Hoskins and Andrew McCutchen Thursday was met with quite a bit of criticism. But lefties have hit drastically better against Adbert Alzolay in 2021, so Girardi went without two of his hottest hitters in the series finale against the Chicago Cubs, and he was rewarded.
J.T. Realmuto got the Phillies on the board in the top of the second, stealing home after Didi Gregorius successfully swiped second base:
An inning later, Miller made Girardi look pretty smart, hitting a 401-foot opposite-field home run,
In the top of the fifth inning, Miller hit a 400-foot home run, this time bringing himself and – who else – Jankowski home:
The Phillies were able to put the game on ice in the seventh inning, starting with Miller’s third home run of the game.