CHICAGO (AP) — By the time the Chicago Cubs got their offense going Tuesday night, the damage had already been done.
Too little, too late once again.
Now, the Cubs’ entire 2024 season is in serious danger of reaching that point.
Trea Turner hit two long home runs for the major league-leading Philadelphia Phillies, and the Cubs mustered just two hits before a ninth-inning rally fell short in a 6-4 loss to open a three-game series at Wrigley Field.
With their seventh loss in nine games, the Cubs dropped to a season-worst eight games under .500 at 39-47. They’re 12 games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central, 5.5 out of the final NL Wild Card spot and have the third-worst record in the National League entering play Wednesday.
There’s still time to turn around a season that began with playoff aspirations, but it’s already Fourth of July week, so the Cubs need to get things headed in the right direction immediately if they’re going to salvage the season.
“Disappointing, for sure,” Cody Bellinger said after Tuesday’s loss. “We all had high expectations. I think overall, we still do. Today, I thought we put some good swings on the ball. Just some bad breaks, it looked like.
“We’ve got to keep on fighting.”
They’ll have to do it against the Phillies, who are currently missing injured sluggers Bryce Harper and former Cubs World Series hero Kyle Schwarber. But they had no problems Tuesday night in improving to 56-29.
The teams continue their series at Wrigley Field on Wednesday night and conclude it Thursday afternoon with a Fourth of July matinee.
Cubs can’t solve rookie
Phillies right-hander Michael Mercado made his first career MLB start and second career appearance Tuesday night and pitched two-hit ball over five innings to earn his first career win.
The 25-year-old right-hander allowed one run, striking out four and walking two.
Mercado walked a batter and gave up a single to Seiya Suzuki in the first. In between, right fielder Nick Castellanos made a terrific backhanded catch while crashing into the ivy to rob Bellinger of an extra-base hit.
Mercado pitched out of that jam, and the only other hit he allowed was Bellinger’s RBI double in the third that scored Nico Hoerner.
“I think after that first inning, I was able to settle in a little easier,” Mercado said. “But that’s normal with any start, no matter if it’s here, Triple-A, or any time in my career.”
Cubs rally
The Cubs at least made it close in the ninth.
José Ruiz came in and gave up singles to Michael Busch and Bellinger before Suzuki smacked a three-run homer to center, his 11th of the season.
Jeff Hoffman relieved Ruiz and ended the threat, striking out Ian Happ and Christopher Morel before retiring Dansby Swanson on a line drive to right for his seventh save.
Hayden Wesneski started for the Cubs and went five innings, allowing five runs and five hits. The right-hander struck out seven and walked three in his fifth start this season and 22nd appearance overall.
Garrett Stubbs gave Philadelphia a 2-0 lead with a two-run double in the second, and Turner took over from there.
He lined the first pitch of the third to about the 10th row of the bleachers in left-center, then made it 5-1 with a towering two-run drive in the fifth off Wesneski (2-5), giving Turner 15 multi-homer games for his career. The two-time All-Star added an RBI single in the seventh.
“It’s that fine line of trying to make an impact but not trying to do too much,” Turner said. “A few days ago, I was trying a little too hard. Now, I feel the swing is getting there. I was getting good pitches to hit and just not missing them.”
Trainer’s room
Phillies: Schwarber was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left groin after getting hurt in Thursday night’s 7-4 loss to Miami.
Cubs: RHP Julian Merryweather (rib stress fracture) threw 25 pitches in live batting practice at Wrigley Field. He likely will throw another session Saturday before going on a rehab assignment, manager Craig Counsell said. A setup man, Merryweather made four appearances before going on the injured list in early April.
Up next
The Phillies send RHP Zack Wheeler (9-4, 2.73 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday, and the Cubs are going with LHP Shota Imanaga (7-2, 3.07 ERA).
Wheeler bounced back with solid starts against Arizona and Miami after getting tagged for a season-high eight runs in a loss to Baltimore. Imanaga shook off his worst start, tossing six solid innings in Chicago’s win at San Francisco on Thursday.
First pitch at Wrigley Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.