Cubs to get needed relief after getting swept by Phillies

The Cubs suffered a lost weekend to be sure.

One day after being no-hit by the Phillies' Cole Hamels, they went out Sunday and got thumped 11-5 by those same Phillies before a crowd of 41,123 at Wrigley Field.

The last-place Phillies left town with a three-game sweep, and the Cubs are reeling a bit despite a still-respectable record of 51-46.

But here's the thing: The Cubs were laughing and smiling in spite of themselves after Sunday's stinker, in which they were outhit 17-6.

With the game out of hand in the ninth inning, manager Joe Maddon sent backup catcher David Ross in to pitch for a second time this season, and Ross responded with a 1-2-3 inning to keep his ERA at 0.00.

In the bottom of the inning, Ross led off and hit his first home run as a member of the Cubs.

"That's got to be the first time since Babe Ruth that happened, isn't it?" Maddon said. "Position player pitches an inning and then goes and hits the home run. It was great for the fans. The fans were really engaged in that. Obviously a terrible day."

Well, Ross does wear No. 3, as Babe Ruth did, and he was the recipient of much chanting and fan adulation, especially after the home run.

The method to Maddon's madness seemed to have its desired effect of keeping the Cubs from hanging their heads.

"He always comes and talks to me about it first," Ross said of pitching. "He asked me if I was ready to make my home pitching debut. It's always nice to get in here, the fans chanting my name, that was kind of a cool moment in my career. I had never had that happen before. That was pretty neat.

"To come through (with) a home run was fun. It was lighthearted. It doesn't mean a whole lot other than it was a lot of fun. It helped our bullpen save an inning down there and put a smile on a couple guys' faces as well as mine."

Cubs starting pitcher Jason Hammel (5-5) had trouble keeping the ball down, and he got hit for 3 runs in the first inning. The Phillies chased him in the fourth with 3 more runs.

It was an extra-base frenzy for the Phillies all weekend. They hit 3 doubles, 3 triples and 2 homers Sunday. On Saturday, it was 7 doubles and a homer. And in Friday's opener, the Phillies had 3 doubles, a triple and a homer.

"My role today was just garbage," Hammel said. "Unacceptable. Just too many pitches up in the zone and didn't really stick with the game plan at all. Hats off to them. They came out swinging. Obviously, things are going right for them right now."

The Cubs' young hitters are in a collective funk right now. Kris Bryant (.252) struck out three times. Anthony Rizzo was 1-for-10 in the series, and Starlin Castro (.233) went 0-for-2 before given an early exit by Maddon.

If you're looking for fire-and-brimstone speeches from Maddon, you won't find them. He has stressed that it's a long season and slumps happen.

"The beatings will continue until the morale improves," he joked. "You don't change your format. You don't reboot and become somebody else. We lost three games, and I think they (the Phillies) have lost one game since the all-star break.

"Listen, we did not play good at all. I'm not going to defend that. But they played really well. I'd like to see us hit like that for two or three weeks straight. They absolutely stung everything. They deserved to win. They were the better team for three days.

"There's a lot of ebb and flow during the season. We went through a four- or five-game losing streak earlier. We win that great game in Cincinnati (last Wednesday) and everybody's happy.

"Then we're leading in the ninth inning (Friday) and everybody's still happy. And you lose. You get no hit, and then they just pummel you. Just try to evaluate the day appropriately. Don't start a bunch of fires where they're not necessary."

Cubs scouting report

Cubs vs. Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field

TV: Comcast SportsNet Plus today and Tuesday; WGN Wednesday

Radio: WBBM 780-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Kyle Hendricks (4-5) vs. Jorge De La Rosa (6-4) today at 7:05 p.m.; TBD vs. TBD Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.; Jon Lester (5-8) vs. Eddie Butler (3-6) Wednesday at 1:20 p.m.

At a glance: The Rockies come to town in last place in the National League West. Given that they play their home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field, it's no surprise that they are last in the league in ERA (4.89) but second in runs scored by their offense and first in slugging percentage. Former Cub DJ LeMahieu was an all-star. He entered Sunday with a line of .312/.367/.399 with 107 hits, 4 homers and 37 RBI. Nolan Arenado was among the NL leaders in homers (24) and RBI (72). The Cubs' offense has sunk to near the bottom in several key categories. They ranked seventh in home runs entering Sunday. Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo entered Sunday seventh in the NL in OPS (.905).

Next: Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park, Thursday-Sunday

- Bruce Miles