After two encouraging outings — one with an opener and one without — expectations were high for Ben Brown heading into Wednesday’s start at Citizens Bank Park.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go according to plan.
Brown was hit hard early, surrendering three runs in the first inning, and the momentum never swung back in the Cubs’ favor. The final Phillies vs. Cubs score: Phillies 7, Cubs 2 , giving Philadelphia the series win and extending their dominance over Chicago this season.
First Inning Doom: A Pattern Emerges
It didn’t take long for trouble to find Brown. The Phillies struck quickly, putting pressure on him from the get-go.
Max Kepler delivered a two-run double, and a defensive mishap by Nico Hoerner on J.T. Realmuto’s ground ball allowed the third run to score. What could have been a quick inning spiraled into a rocky start.
This wasn’t the first time Brown got off to a shaky beginning. Analyst Jim Deshaies pointed out during the Marquee broadcast that Brown might be starting games too aggressively, leading to early damage.
One idea being floated? Maybe using an opener in future starts could help settle him down before handing over the reins.
Breaking the Streak: Cubs’ Impressive Run Ends
Before this game, the Cubs had gone 131 straight innings without allowing more than two runs — a streak spanning nearly two weeks and 14 games.
But the Phillies snapped that cold streak in the first inning alone, scoring three runs off Brown.
The floodgates opened a little more later in the game, especially after Kyle Schwarber launched a solo homer in the third and Alec Bohm capitalized on a tricky play in the fifth.
Turning the Page: What Went Wrong?
Despite going 5⅔ innings and striking out five, Brown gave up eight hits and six earned runs — including a costly error by Kyle Tucker in center field that kept the inning alive.
His pitch count climbed to 100, which was likely an effort to save the bullpen during a long road trip. Still, it wasn’t the kind of performance the Cubs hoped for from their young starter.
Notably, this marked the fourth game this season where a Cubs starter allowed at least six earned runs — and Brown was on the mound for all four.
Postgame Notes: Homestand Ahead
The Cubs wrapped up a 4-5 road trip but remain in a strong position atop the NL Central, thanks in part to losses by the Cardinals and Brewers earlier in the day.
Now, they return home to Wrigley Field for their longest homestand of the year — a 10-game stretch that begins Thursday against the Pirates.
Jameson Taillon will take the mound for Chicago, looking to put this loss behind them and kick off the homestand on a positive note.
Back to the Drawing Board
For Ben Brown, this outing was a setback — but not necessarily a dealbreaker. He showed promise in previous starts, and the coaching staff remains hopeful adjustments can be made.
Whether that means experimenting with openers or fine-tuning his approach in the early innings, the Cubs aren’t ready to give up on him yet.
With another chance coming soon — possibly against the Brewers at Wrigley — Brown will look to prove he belongs in the team’s long-term plans.
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