After tumbling through a five-game losing streak, the Phillies found their footing — and then some — in Chicago. What started as a desperately-needed rebound on Saturday turned into a full-fledged response by Sunday, as Philadelphia took two of three from the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Stellar starts from Jesús Luzardo and Aaron Nola bookended a crucial weekend series, and the bats finally came to life just when the club needed it most.
Game 2: All Bats, No Breaks
Saturday’s 10–4 win felt less like a game and more like a release. With the pressure mounting and frustrations brewing after a week of empty frames and missed chances, the Phillies’ offense cracked wide open. And for the first time in what felt like forever, the whole lineup joined in. All nine starters recorded a hit, a rare feat that spoke volumes about the team’s top-to-bottom urgency.
The fourth inning was where it all broke open. Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, and J.T. Realmuto loaded the bases to set the table. Max Kepler, battling in a long at-bat, finally pushed the Phillies onto the board with a single to left, scoring Schwarber. Alec Bohm followed with a ground ball through the left side that plated Castellanos, and Johan Rojas added a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing Realmuto home. Bryson Stott kept the line moving with an RBI single to left, cashing in Kepler. Then Bryce Harper — who looked like a man swinging to ignite something bigger — hammered a two-run double off the ivy to cap the six-run explosion.
Max Kepler wasn’t done, either. He added a solo shot in the seventh to pile on late. After struggling to string innings together all week, the Phillies finally looked like themselves again: aggressive, opportunistic, relentless.
TO THE MAX pic.twitter.com/CSMpLC4l8Q
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 26, 2025
Meanwhile, Jesús Luzardo was the perfect stabilizer. He worked six strong innings, allowing just three hits and no earned runs, using his devastating changeup to keep the Cubs off balance. It was a signature performance that felt tailor-made for a team desperate for a steady hand. With an ERA of 1.73, Luzardo notched his third win of the season. The Phillies are 4-2 this season behind Luzardo’s excellence.
Game 3: Nola Outduels Taillon, Phillies Seal Series Win
Sunday’s rubber match brought a classic pitcher’s duel to the Friendly Confines, with Aaron Nola matching up against Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon. Nola was vintage: seven innings, three hits, just one run allowed, six strikeouts, and complete command of his arsenal.
6 Ks through 4 for Nola 😤@Toyota x #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/7wCgt2HBTB
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 28, 2025
The Phillies’ offense scratched across the tying run in the third when Trea Turner ripped an RBI single to score Bryson Stott. From there, the game stayed locked at 1–1 into extra innings, with both bullpens holding firm.
In the top of the 10th, the Phillies finally broke through. Nick Castellanos started the inning on second base and moved to third when J.T. Realmuto and Max Kepler worked a couple of walks. Alec Bohm delivered the go-ahead blow with a sac fly to right field, bringing Castellanos home. Trea Turner wasn’t done either — he tacked on a huge insurance run with another RBI single, making it 3–1.
Bohm sends Casty home pic.twitter.com/SkJuWKfefv
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 28, 2025
Jordan Romano took the ball in the bottom of the 10th and slammed the door with authority, locking down the save and giving the Phillies a hard-earned series win on the road.
Looking Ahead: Momentum Reclaimed
This wasn’t just two wins — this was a statement. The Phillies came into Chicago battered and reeling, and they leave looking like a team that just might be turning the corner.
Jesús Luzardo and Aaron Nola both flashed ace-caliber stuff, steadying the ship when it could’ve easily kept sinking. The offense proved it can win in different ways — by bludgeoning opponents one day and manufacturing gritty runs the next. And the bullpen, after a rough stretch, stepped up in a big way, with Jordan Romano slamming the door when it mattered most
Now, the Phillies head back to Citizens Bank Park, where they’ve quietly built one of the toughest home-field advantages in baseball. They haven’t lost a home series since last July — and they’ll look to keep that streak alive with the Nationals and D-backs coming in for a critical homestand.
If this weekend in Chicago was any indication, the Phillies might just be heating up at exactly the right time.
