J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber homered in support of Aaron Nola’s six solid innings as the host Philadelphia Phillies secured their first National League East title in 13 years by defeating the Chicago Cubs 6-2 on Monday.
The Phillies entered the day with a magic number of one to clinch the division — a bit of a disappointment after a 2-5 road trip against the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets. However, some home cooking proved to be just the recipe for Philadelphia (93-64), which remains a half-game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the race for the best record in the National League.
Realmuto, Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos each finished with two hits for the Phillies.
Isaac Paredes registered a pair of hits for the Cubs (80-77), who had won three of their previous four games.
Nola (13-8) allowed two runs and seven hits in six-plus frames. He walked two and struck out seven to earn his first victory since Aug. 27.
Realmuto got the party started in the second inning, lifting a first-pitch sinker from Caleb Kilian (0-1) over the center field wall for a two-run home run.
Realmuto’s 14th homer was followed one inning later by Schwarber’s 37th — a solo blast that made it 3-0. The Phillies tacked on an extra run in that inning, as Castellanos delivered an RBI single to plate Trea Turner.
Harper scored on a fielding error in the fifth, and Schwarber’s double-play grounder in the sixth drove in another run to stretch it to 6-0 Philadelphia.
Chicago’s best threat came in the seventh, when the visitors scored twice to make it 6-2.
Paredes and Nico Hoerner led off the frame with back-to-back doubles to get the Cubs on the scoreboard. Nola eventually gave way to Matt Strahm, who gave up a run-scoring groundout but otherwise escaped a no-out, bases-loaded jam with minimal damage.
Jeff Hoffman worked the eighth and Carlos Estevez logged the ninth to ignite a subdued celebration on the field.
Nate Pearson started for Chicago and worked a scoreless first before giving way to Kilian, who was charged with six runs (five earned), eight hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings.
