Pitching, rookie duo drive Cubs to first sweep of '22

PHILADELPHIA -- Though it may not be enough to prevent the front office from shaking things up ahead of next week's Trade Deadline, the Cubs couldn't have asked for a better start to the season's second half.

Chicago turned in a third consecutive all-around effort on Sunday, completing its first sweep of the season with a 4-3 win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. It was also the Cubs' first road sweep of at least three games in more than a year -- and just the second in the last three seasons (with the other coming in Pittsburgh from May 25-27 last season).

There was plenty to like during the three-game set. Willson Contreras and Ian Happ continued to show why they represented the club at the All-Star Game, and backup catcher Yan Gomes hit a pair of homers in Sunday's finale for his first multi-homer game as a Cub -- but the pitching staff and an electric rookie duo stole the show.

“It’s just nice to put some wins together,” manager David Ross said. “Pretty good all-around team win. You know, sweeps are hard.”

Here's a closer look at the three keys to Chicago's three-for-three weekend in Philadelphia:

Well, for starters
After Justin Steele grinded on Friday and Marcus Stroman dominated on Saturday, Drew Smyly kept the train moving on Sunday. He retired the first 14 batters he faced before finally giving up a double with two outs in the fifth.

Still, Smyly allowed just two runs (one earned) over six innings while striking out four and walking zero. He also limited the damage to just one unearned run in a sixth inning that featured an infield popup getting lost in the sun and a foul popup being dropped by Gomes.

“He was in control the whole way,” Ross said. “When he’s in a rhythm like that and throwing strikes and he’s got multiple pitches working, it’s fun to sit and watch. He’s just in cruise control.”

Overall, the Cubs' starters allowed just three earned runs over 17 innings (1.59 ERA) against the Phillies. Chicago's starters ranked 25th in the Majors with a 4.83 ERA in the season's first half.

“It was a fun series for the Cubs to go out and sweep a team that’s trying to make the playoffs,” Smyly said. “It just shows what we’re capable of when we play at our best. It’s fun baseball when everybody is performing well, so just keep that going.”

More Morel magic
Christopher Morel showcased his entire skill set in Philadelphia, reaching base three times in each of the three games while also flashing his speed on the basepaths and playing highlight-reel defense.

It started on Friday when his aggressive baserunning resulted in a Little League home run. Morel later showed off his range while making an incredible sliding stop and throw at second base. He reached base three more times on Saturday and stole his ninth base of the season.

On Sunday, he went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a walk -- and he nearly made an incredible diving catch in center field on the hit that ended Smyly's perfect game bid.

“You see what kind of thunder he has in his bat,” Ross said. “He just continues to have really good at-bats against tough pitching and continues to grow into an everyday Major Leaguer.”

Velázquez near perfect
It's hard to imagine a player making a bigger impact despite starting only once in a three-game set than the one Nelson Velázquez made.

The 23-year-old rookie hit a pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning on Friday and added another in the ninth -- making him just the second player in franchise history with a multi-homer game off the bench. Velázquez worked a pinch-hit walk in the eighth inning of a tie game on Saturday, then picked up an RBI in the decisive 10th inning.

Finally in the starting lineup on Sunday, Velázquez jumped all over a first-pitch curveball from Bailey Falter in the fourth inning for a solo homer that left the bat at 102.4 mph. Three of the six balls Velázquez put in play this weekend had an exit velocity greater than 100 mph.

"He wants to be good long term, wants to be able to make adjustments, talk hitting," Ross said. "He's always asking questions around the cage and he's very, very knowledgeable when he's thinking through things. So it doesn't surprise me that he's having calm at-bats."

Velázquez either reached base or recorded an RBI in seven of his eight plate appearances this weekend. He finished the three games with seven RBIs and five runs scored.

Not bad for a series in which he entered in the eighth inning in two of the three games.

“When we start coming together as a team, the young guys start maturing and the other guys start playing how we’re supposed to, we become a deeper lineup,” Gomes said. “We’ve just got to focus on it now in the second half -- and that was a good way to start.”