Defense wins you games. And it can cost you some as well.

The Phillies edged the Cubs 5-4 in 10 innings in the first of a four-game series with Chicago’s NL team. And JT Realmuto played a huge role in the win.

He started things in the bottom of the fifth by tagging out Anthony Rizzo at home thanks to a dart of a throw by Bryce Harper from right field. In the following half inning, Realmuto scored the Phils’ first two runs on a single to center and then later scored on Cesar Hernandez’s triple to right.

But with a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the eighth, things looked like they would end up going in the Cubs’ favor. Daniel Descalso hit a ball right between Andrew McCutchen and Odubel Herrera in left center, scoring two runs. While Descalso was running toward third, Jean Segura’s throw deflected off of Descalso’s foot and into the crowd, resulting in what was essentially an inside-the-park home run to give the Cubs a one run lead.

But Segura would redeem himself later in the top of the ninth with an RBI single that drove in Maikel Franco to tie the game at 4.

It was then up to Realmuto to play hero once again with a 1-2 count with two outs in the 10th:

And that was the game. Jake Arrieta pitched six strong innings, giving up one run off eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

The Phils resume play today at 7:05 PM on NBC Sports Philadelphia and ESPN. Zach Eflin will take the mound against Jose Quintana.

On the injury front, Vince Velasquez and Roman Quinn are close to returning while that can’t be said about Victor Arano.

The Roundup:


Eagles OTAs begin today without Malcolm Jenkins:

There also won’t be any limitations for Carson Wentz, which is a really good thing.

Chris Long also won’t be at OTAs because he retired. Here are his top three plays as an Eagle.


Swingman James Ennis declined his $1.8 million player option and will become a free agent.

Perhaps an Ennis replacement could come from one of the six players the team held pre-draft workouts for yesterday.


In other sports news, the Warriors defeated the Trail Blazers in overtime to become the first franchise since the 1960s Celtics to make five straight NBA Finals.

Redskins linebacker Reuben Foster is done for the year with a torn ACL. Also the Buccaneers “mutually parted ways” with Gerald McCoy.

Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was detained at the EDC music festival in Las Vegas.

The NFL is open to study marijuana for health reasons.


In the news, today is primary day in Pennsylvania.

A great white shark was spotted in the Long Island Sound for the first time ever.