Goose steals the show at Wrigley, as seemingly endless losing streak continues for Phillies

Managing Editor

Monday, April 20, 2026

Apr 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (27) looks down after Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (not pictured) hits a three run home during the second inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images Matt Marton

There was a time where if the Phillies were struggling, they would turn to Aaron Nola to be their stopper. Monday, though, he was a major part of one of the most painful stretches in recent Phillies history continuing, as they lost the opener of a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, 5-1.

The Phillies had a bases-loaded opportunity against Colin Rea in the top of the second inning, but Rafael Marchán struck out on a 3-2 splitter out of the zone to end the threat. Marchán did finally single in the top of the seventh, snapping an 0-for-27 streak. Still, he's hitting just .067 in 2026. NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury noted from Chicago that the Phillies are hopeful that J.T. Realmuto (lower back stiffness) can return to the lineup Tuesday.

As often happens in baseball, when you don't convert on a chance like that, momentum shifts to the other team. The Cubs loaded the bases with no one out against Nola in the home half of the third inning. To his credit, he induced a double play off the bat of Miguel Amaya, which plated a run, but also got him two outs. Nola, though, proceeded to walk a struggling Pete Crow-Armstrong, before then giving up the inning's big blow in the form of a three-run home run by Dansby Swanson:

OH MY GOODNESS DANSBY pic.twitter.com/A97S4uvCCU
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 21, 2026

An inning later, the Cubs tacked on another run when Michael Conforto drove in Michael Busch with a sacrifice fly.

Nola ultimately allowed six hits and five earned runs over 4 1/3 innings. While he struck out five batters, he also walked four. Just 46 of the 88 pitches Nola threw Monday were strikes. His ERA after five starts is 5.06.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Phillies got on the board, as Justin Crawford doubled into the left-field gap just beyond Crow-Armstrong's outreach, scoring Bryson Stott from first base:

The Phillies will NOT be shutout tonight

(via @NBCSPhilly) pic.twitter.com/cyre48VHTU
— OnPattison (@OnPattison) April 21, 2026

That was the lone run that Rea allowed Monday, with the veteran righty limiting the Phillies to six hits and striking out five over 6 2/3 innings pitched. In fact, it was the lone run that the Phillies scored all game, continuing a troubling trend of only scoring in one inning of the game.

The Phillies did threaten a bit in the top of the eighth inning against former Phillie Hoby Milner. But Rob Thomson elected to stick with Bryson Stott against the tough lefty, and Stott ultimately popped up near Chicago's dugout. Alex Bregman made the inning-ending catch, with Stott and the Phillies stranding runners on first and second.

In the ninth, Kyle Schwarber popped up behind home plate to strand Crawford on third base and end the game.

With the loss, the Phillies have dropped six consecutive games. They are 8-14 on the season. They've perhaps escaped much national attention because the division-rival Mets have lost 11 games in a row. But New York was off Monday, and eventually, they're going to win again. The Phillies will too, but it sure doesn't feel like it right now.

Perhaps Tuesday — when Jesús Luzardo squares off with Shota Imanaga — the Phillies will get going again. Or at least maybe the Wrigley Field goose will be back: