By AARON BRACY Associated Press
Bryson Stott hit his first career pinch home run, a two-run drive in the seventh inning that led the Philadelphia Phillies over the Chicago Cubs 2-1 Sunday.
After extending their losing streak to five in the series opener, the defending NL champions won the final two games of the set. Taijuan Walker pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings on three days’ rest and Craig Kimbrell got his 399th save, moving within one of becoming the eighth pitcher with 400.
Chicago headed to a nine-game homestand after a 2-7 trip.
With the score 0-0, Edmundo Sosa doubled off Albert Alzolay (1-3) with one out in the seventh, Stott, a left-handed batter who had been 1 for 7 with a double as a pinch hitter, batted for righty Josh Harrison and drove a 96 mph fastball on a 1-2 count into the right-field seats for his fourth home run this season.
Matt Strahm (4-3) pitched around a walk in the seventh.
Kimbrel gave up Christopher Morel’s two-out homer in the ninth and walked Trey Mancini before retiring pinch-hitter Patrick Wisdom on a foulout to catcher J.T. Realmuto. Kimbrel remained perfect in five save chances.
Morel has eight homers in 11 games since his call-up from the minors. He hit 16 homers in 113 games with the Cubs last season.
Nick Castellanos doubled and had two hits for Philadelphia,
Walker got just two outs and threw 40 pitches on Wednesday at San Francisco. He gave up two hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Cubs starter Justin Steele allowed four hits in six scoreless innings with six strikeouts and one walk, lowering his ERA to 2.20
STRONG SUZUKI
Castellanos led off the sixth with a double but was doubled off at third after a strong throw from right fielder Seiya Suzuki following Bryce Harper’s flyout.
BEING PICKY
Realmuto picked off Mike Tauchman at first base in the second, a play originally called an out by umpire Mike Estabrook but reversed on a video review. Walker picked out Dansby Swanson at first base in the fourth,
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks (right shoulder strain) gave up one run and five hits in six innings, striking out six and walking none, in a rehab start at Triple-A Iowa on Saturday. … RHP Codi Heuer (right elbow surgery) pitched one scoreless inning of relief, walking two and striking out one, at Triple-A Iowa on Sunday.
UP NEXT
Cubs Chicago starts LHP Drew Smyly (4-1, 2.86) on Tuesday against the New York Mets.
Phillies: RHP Zack Wheeler (3-3, 4.06) starts for Philadelphia on Monday night to open a three-game home set against Arizona. LHP Tommy Henry (1-1, 5.00) goes for the Diamondbacks.
