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The Chicago Cubs may have been out-hit, but they weren’t outplayed. Despite the Philadelphia Phillies’ dominant 23–15 advantage in hits across the two-game Statis-Pro baseball series, the Cubs came up clutch when it mattered most — especially on defense — to pull off a 2–0 sweep and advance to face the top-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers.
Game 2: Holding On for Dear Life
The drama peaked in the ninth inning of Game 2. Clinging to a 5–4 lead with runners on second and third and just one out, the Cubs turned to their PB 4–7 (average) reliever Colin Rea. Rea retired Bryson Stott, then issued a tense walk to Bryce Harper to load the bases for Kyle Schwarber. But Rea induced a grounder to second base to end the game, sealing a 5–4 Cubs victory and the series sweep.
The “What If” Shot
Just an inning earlier, Trea Turner nearly flipped the script with a deep drive to right that would have been a walk-off homer in Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park, where the “DEEP” range for home runs extends from 11–52. Unfortunately for the Phillies, Wrigley Field only rewards a homer on a 11–26 — and Tucker’s drive stayed in the yard. Ironically, the Cubs benefited from that same narrow range in Game 1, when Pete Crow-Armstrong’s deep drive registered a 26 — barely clearing the wall — to give Chicago life. That game ended in extra innings when Ian Happ doubled home Tucker for a 3–2 win.
Defense Wins Series
While the Phillies’ bats were relentless, the Cubs’ defense told the story. In Game 1, Michael Busch made a key Clutch Defense stop on a would-be double down the line by Brandon Marsh, holding him to a single. Later, Ian Happ made a spectacular catch to rob Alec Bohm of a potential game-winning double, and Carson Kelly made a heads-up play on a dribbler near the plate to end the inning. That defense forced extras — where Happ’s double secured the win.
On the mound, Matthew Boyd limited the Phillies to just one run over five innings in Game 1, while Drew Pomeranz and Porter Hodge combined to shut things down late. Hodge earned the win in the 10th, then turned around to pitch key innings (5th and 6th) in Game 2, again picking up the victory.
And speaking of Kelly, his defensive wizardry didn’t stop at fielding — he threw out potential basestealers late in both games, preventing what could have been two Phillies comebacks.
Offensive Fireworks
The Phillies’ offense was nothing short of explosive. Brandon Marsh led the charge with five hits, while Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and J.T. Realmuto each added three hits apiece. Incredibly, those four combined for 14 of the team’s 23 hits in the series.
For Chicago, it was a team effort. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, and Carson Kelly each collected three hits, providing enough offense to back their stellar defense.
Up Next: The Powerhouse Dodgers
With the sweep, the Cubs now move on to face the Los Angeles Dodgers, who finished with the league’s best 26–16 record (.600) in the Statis-Pro season — even while skipping their final six games against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dodgers feature a terrifying rotation trio of Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, all PB 2–9 pitchers.
Elsewhere in the postseason, the Milwaukee Brewers claimed the other NL bye and will take on the New York Mets, having won a tiebreaker among teams finishing with the second-best record — tied with the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs.
For full standings, see the final 2025 Statis-Pro season results.
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