Tim Mayza allows first runs of season in Phillies’ loss to Cubs

Tim Mayza’s sixth-inning struggles hurt the Phillies on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park in the club’s 10-4 loss to the Cubs. Mayza, handed the loss, was charged with four runs — the first he’s allowed this season.

Mayza entered a tied game after an Edmundo Sosa three-run home run and a three-run, five-inning outing from Aaron Nola had the score even entering the sixth frame. After inducing a groundout to start the sixth, Mayza issued a one-out walk to Carson Kelly and hit Pete Crow-Armstrong with a pitch to bring up nine-hole hitter Dansby Swanson.

After working a full count, Swanson dribbled a slider back to Mayza in front of the pitcher’s mound. Mayza fielded the ball cleanly and fired to Bryson Stott at second base. Stott couldn’t squeeze Mayza’s throw — a solid one that could have been the start of an inning-ending double play — into his glove. The ball rolled into shallow center field. Everyone was safe, and the bases were loaded.

Mayza got ahead 0-2 on the next batter, Cubs leadoff hitter Nico Hoerner. But the left-hander’s 0-2 offering was a center-cut sinker. Hoerner hit the pitch hard up the middle for a two-run single and a 5-3 Cubs lead. Mayza’s struggles, and night, concluded after he walked Michael Busch to re-load the bases.

Brad Keller was summoned from the Phillies’ bullpen to get them out of the one-out, bases-loaded jam. He was unsuccesful.

Alex Bregman singled through the right side of the infield off Keller, plating Swanson and Hoerner to officially close the book on Mayza’s night. Keller then struck out back-to-back batters to finish the inning with the Cubs ahead 7-3.

Mayza entered Tuesday as one of the Phillies’ best early-season surprises. He had completed seven scoreless appearances, striking out 10 hitters and walking one in 8 2/3 innings. His ERA on the season now sits at 3.00.

Meanwhile, the Phillies’ recent struggles against Cubs right-hander Colin Rea continued. Rea, who entered the game in the second inning after lefty Riley Martin opened, has given the Phillies fits in the past and did so again after allowing Sosa’s home run in the second inning. He only gave up one more hit after Sosa’s long ball. The righty’s night was done after six innings of work. Rea now has a 2.86 ERA in five appearances against the Phillies since the start of 2024.

After a Trea Turner RBI single made it 7-4, the go-ahead run eventually made its way to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning in the form of pinch-hitter Alec Bohm. But Bohm struck out on four pitches against left-hander Caleb Thielbar with the bases loaded to end the threat.

A three-run home run by Kelly off Tanner Banks in the top of the ninth all but sealed the Cubs’ victory.