BASEBALL: Nico Hoerner drives in 5 as Cubs blitz Phillies to win series

Nico Hoerner delivered a career-high five RBIs, and Shota Imanaga tied a personal best with 11 strikeouts as the Chicago Cubs rolled to an 11-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday in Philadelphia.

Hoerner sparked the offense with an RBI single in the third inning before scoring on a throwing error later in the frame. He then broke the game open with a two-run home run in the fifth and added a two-run single in the sixth, finishing with 19 hits and 16 RBIs over his last 13 games this month.

Matt Shaw contributed a two-run double, while Dansby Swanson added a solo home run as both players turned in three-hit performances. Chicago totaled 15 hits in the game and secured the decisive win in the three-game series.

The Cubs have now won back-to-back games for just the second time this season and have scored 35 runs on 51 hits over their last four contests, signaling a surge in offensive production.

Imanaga (1-1) set the tone on the mound despite allowing a leadoff home run to Trea Turner on a first-inning fastball. The left-hander recovered to limit Philadelphia to one run on three hits and one walk across six innings, throwing 97 pitches with 67 strikes before exiting.

Bryce Harper added a solo home run in the ninth inning, but the Phillies were held to just five hits as they dropped their sixth game in their last eight outings.

Turner opened the scoring with a home run to center field on a 0-1 pitch. The Cubs answered in the third when Hoerner drove in Shaw with a single, then came around to score on a throwing error by catcher J.T. Realmuto during an attempted throw to third base.

Alex Bregman advanced to third on the miscue and scored on a wild pitch from Jesús Luzardo (1-3), giving Chicago a 3-1 lead.

Hoerner extended the advantage in the fifth with a two-run homer off Luzardo, and Shaw’s two-run double in the sixth ended the pitcher’s outing. Luzardo allowed nine runs (eight earned) on a career-high-tying 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking one.

The Cubs’ late offensive surge sealed the game as Chicago continued its strong stretch at the plate. -Field Level Media/Reuters