Chicago, IL – Carlos Ruiz's eighth-inning solo home run proved to be the difference, as the Philadelphia Phillies downed the Chicago Cubs, 9-2, at Wrigley Field on Wednesday.
Hector Luna hit the first grand slam of his major league career as the Phillies poured in six insurance runs in the ninth to extend their season-long winning streak to four games.
Jose Contreras (1-0) pitched a perfect seventh -- part of a string of 17 consecutive batters retired by Philadelphia pitching -- to earn his first victory since August 1, 2010.
Kyle Kendrick, making a spot start in place of the injured Vance Worley -- who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation earlier Wednesday -- allowed two runs (one earned) on just three hits and no walks over six innings.
"You just have to be prepared," Kendrick said of his use as a spot-starter. "This is what I've done last year. Whenever you get the call, you have to be ready to go. The role can be tough sometimes, but once you're out there, pitching's pitching."
Alfonso Soriano, who hit his first homer of the year in Tuesday's loss to the Cardinals, accounted for both Chicago runs with a two-run blast, while Shawn Camp (2-2) took the loss in relief.
Ruiz put the visitors in front for good when he pummeled Camp's one-out offering over the wall in left.
"We have guys pitching in roles they probably shouldn't be pitching in," Cubs manager Sveum said. "It's tough, they've never had to do this before. It's not the easiest thing to do."
After Scott Maine loaded the bases without recording an out in the ninth, Philadelphia picked up two more runs when Ty Wigginton dribbled a ground ball through the hole in right.
After a pair of outs and an intentional walk to Ruiz, Luna torched an 0-1 fastball into the left-field seats.
Earlier, Freddy Galvis doubled in Ruiz to put the Phillies on the board in the second inning.
The Cubs got took a brief lead in the fourth. Juan Pierre watched a routine fly ball bounce off the palm of his glove, putting a man aboard for Soriano, who drilled a pitch out to left.
But Shane Victorino drove in Kendrick a half-inning later, and Chicago did not get another hit for the remainder of the contest.
Game Notes
Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco left the game in the seventh inning with a right knee bruise after fouling a ball off his knee...To fill Worley's spot on the 25-man roster, the Phillies recalled lefty Joe Savery from Triple-A Lehigh Valley...Before the game, Chicago placed reliever Lendy Castillo on the 15-day disabled list with a left groin strain, recalled Maine from Triple-A Iowa, and outrighted infielder Blake DeWitt to Iowa.
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