Observations: Cubs' skid reaches 10 in blowout vs. Phillies

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The Cubs lost 13-3 to the Phillies Monday, their 10th straight loss, dropping to 42-43 this season.

"It's not fun, let met tell you that," Javy Báez said of the skid. "But we're trying. Everybody's mad. I'm mad about it. The only thing I can do is come back tomorrow and try again."

Here are 10 observations from the game.

1. Jake Marisnick noted Sunday the Cubs have been unable to come up with big hits in recent weeks. They loaded the bases with one out in the first inning and didn’t score.

The Cubs went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left five runners on base, tallying seven hits.

2. Marisnick supplied one of the Cubs’ three runs, hitting a solo home run in the second — his first since May 5.

3. Zach Davies passed the game off to the bullpen with the Cubs in good position, tied 2-2. A pair of solo home runs aside, the right-hander kept the Phillies at bay, allowing only four hits in five innings.

4. David Ross may have been picking a moment to fire up his team when he got ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the sixth. Bryce Harper took a close Rex Brothers pitch for ball 4 and Ross shared his feelings with home plate umpire Nic Lentz.

"It felt like from my standpoint, he complained and got a call from complaining," Ross said of Harper. "I felt like [Lentz] got talked into a zone."

5. The Phillies have had one of the game's worst bullpens this season and the Cubs one of the best. But Philadelphia's 'pen allowed one run in five innings, while Cubs relievers allowed 11 (six earned) in their five.

Eric Sogard allowed three of those runs, however, all earned. His error in the eighth while playing third base led to five unearned runs

6. How tough have things been for the Cubs? Monday was Sogard's fourth pitching appearance in the last 15 games.

"That's just strategy in baseball and trying to get a move on to the next game," Ross said. "That game is well out of hand.

"We're trying to plan for a long season and at some point turn this thing around and ride that bullpen again, as they've gotten us a lot of wins already."

7. Báez nearly put a hole in the center field wall in the third, crushing a one-hop, RBI double off the ivy to score Kris Bryant from first. It registered a 116.7 mph exit velocity, Báez’ career high.

8. Báez, a notorious free swinger, also walked in the first inning, his sixth free pass over his last eight games and 14th this season. He walked seven times in 2020.

9. Monday is only the third time in this losing streak the Cubs have scored three or more runs. Báez hit a solo home run in the eighth to get them there.

10. This is officially the Cubs’ second-longest losing streak this century, behind a 12-game skid in 2012. They’re under .500 for the first time since May 16.

On deck: Game 2 of the four-game series is Tuesday, with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch. Former Phillie Jake Arrieta (5-8, 5.57 ERA) and Aaron Nola (5-5, 4.44 ERA) are the probable starters.

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