Schwarber’s two homers part of explosive night for Phillies’ bats against Cubs

After scoring 20 runs in their previous eight games, the Phillies’ offense desperately needed a laugher. They got one on Monday against the Chicago Cubs. And it was led by a former Cub.

Kyle Schwarber walloped two homers in a 13-7 win for the Phillies, who scored in six of the first seven innings in the series opener. On top of the overall output, the consistency was another much-needed sign for the Phillies, who had concentrated all of their scoring into just one inning each of the last three nights against the Diamondbacks. Every Phillies starter except for Justin Crawford had at least one hit.

Schwarber got the scoring started with a solo homer to dead center in the first inning, down to a knee. A two-run homer to right-center in the third doubled the lead.

But it was the fifth inning that really turned it into the aforementioned laugher. The Phillies scored five runs, highlighted by a two-run double from Brandon Marsh. The second of three J.T. Realmuto RBI singles made it 9-2.

His third pushed the lead to 10 the following inning, which also featured an RBI double from new clubhouse DJ Adolis García. The Phillies racked up 15 hits on the night, their highest total of the season. Like from Realmuto, three of those hits came from Brandon Marsh.

Their 13 runs also made for a season-high.

It was plenty on a good, not great, night from Cristopher Sánchez. He allowed two runs, both on a Dansby Swanson homer, across six innings with six hits and three walks. He did strike out eight. Sánchez got 16 whiffs (10 on his changeup) on 40 swings.

The Cubs inched their way back late, cutting the score to 13-7 with two on in the eighth against Seth Johnson, but left it at that. The win moves the Phillies to 8-8 on the season. They have two chances to win their first series since going to Colorado.