After an 11-game losing streak, the Cubs would take any break that would come their way.

Wednesday night against the Phillies, those fell the Cubs’ way and they made sure to capitalize on them. The Cubs struck early and had some solid situational hitting en route to an 8-3 win over Philadelphia.

“We are at the highest level in this game, competitors,” Anthony Rizzo said. “All of us compete at everything. To lose 11 in a row, it just sucked and to win is a good feeling.”

It all started with one play in the bottom of the 1st.

With one out, Kris Bryant ripped a grounder to short that Didi Gregorius mishandled, allowing Bryant to reach. Anthony Rizzo followed with a bloop single to center. The Cubs caught a break when Bryant was called out at second on a Willson Contreras lineout to second that Jean Segura flipped to the base as he tried to turn the double play. The play was overturned on a challenge.

That set the stage for Jason Heyward. On the next pitch, Heyward singled to center to give the Cubs the lead. It was the start of three-straight singles that staked the Cubs to a fast 3-0 lead.

“Coming into tonight we put up 10 yesterday and we got blown out,” Rizzo said. “For the offense to respond and keep going out there, definitely helps us even when [the Phillies] get the 3 runs there.”

They added 2 more runs in the 2nd inning, on a Rizzo RBI-triple and a Contreras RBI-single and they never looked back.

The Cubs had 7 RBI-hits with 2 outs Wednesday night as Joc Pederson added an RBI-single and Patrick Wisdom had an RBI-double in the 6th. The Cubs were 6-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

“I thought not giving up last night and continuing to grind the ABs and some big at-bats off the bench that turned into a little bit of momentum,” David Ross said. “I just thought a lot of those guys staying up the middle, willing to get beat, willing to use the big part of the field and really good things happen against a really good pitcher.” 

That was more than enough support for Alec Mills. After striking out a career-high 9 in his last outing, Mills struck out 5 in 5.2 innings of work, allowing just 3 runs.

“A lot of that streak is just stuff not going our way,” Mills said. “Really just tried to give us some length, tried to give the bullpen some rest, just keep us in the game. So it feels great.” 

The Cubs’ pen pitched 3.2 shutout innings to close out the win.

Notes

• There was a 12-minute rain delay in the bottom of the second inning. Rizzo tripled off Zack Wheeler in the first at-bat after the tarp had been removed.
• Andrew Chafin extended his scoreless innings streak to 22.2 with a perfect 7th and 8th inning.
• Bryant exited the game in the 4th inning with right hamstring tightness. Wisdom replaced him. Ross said Bryant was day-to-day after being evaluated by the trainers. 
• Craig Kimbrel pitched a shutout 9th inning to seal the win for the Cubs. It was his first outing since Saturday’s loss in Cincinnati and only his second outing since June 24. 
• Rizzo’s 2nd inning triple was his 3rd of the season and the 21st of his career.
• Javy Báez was scratched from the lineup prior to first pitch with a right thumb sprain. He was available to pinch hit in the game.