Edmundo Sosa, Whit Merrifield drive in runs in 8th, Phillies top Cubs 5-3

CHICAGO (AP) — Edmundo Sosa broke a tie with a short sacrifice fly in the eighth, Whit Merrifield followed with an RBI single and the Philadelphia Phillies topped the struggling Chicago Cubs 5-3 on Wednesday night.

Trea Turner easily scored from third on Sosa's 261-foot fly to put the Phillies ahead when rookie center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong's throw was well up the first base line.

Crow-Armstrong's left and throwing hand had been cut on a slide when he stole third in the fourth inning and was spiked by Merrifield.

The Phillies and manager Rob Thomson knew it.

“How effective is he going to be on the throw?" Thomson said. “We don't know, but we're going to take a chance.”

Turner, who missed six weeks with a left hamstring strain, said he's feeling good after getting two hits and scoring two runs against Chicago.

“Today I felt like there were some plays when I needed to be, you know, quick and needed to have that next gear,” Turner said. “Went for it and everything's good.”

All-Star Alec Bohm hit his 11th home run, a two-run shot, and finished with two hits as the Phillies won their third straight.

“The cool part about it is being up 3-2,” Bohm said of his drive that put the Phillies ahead. "But any time you can hit a homer you're happy about it for sure."

Philadelphia backup catcher Rafael Marchán hit a homer and doubled in his 12th game since being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on June 11 after three-time All-Star J.T. Realmuto was hurt.

The Phillies, who have the majors' best record at 57-29, improved to 4-1 playing without All-Star Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber.

Crow-Armstrong drove in two runs with a pair of doubles for the last-place Cubs, who dropped their third straight and eighth in 10. Cody Bellinger had two hits and an RBI.

Crow-Armstrong said he didn't expect to miss time with “a good slice." Manager Craig Counsell wasn't sure.

“He's got a pretty good cut on his thumb,” Counsell said.

Phillies starter Zack Wheeler allowed two runs on five hits in six innings, while striking out seven and walking two. Matt Strahm (4-1) pitched the seventh and got the win despite allowing a run on Bellinger's game-tying single.

José Alvarado worked around a single in the ninth for his 13th save. Center fielder Johan Rojas made a diving catch of Nico Hoerner’s liner for the second out.

Tyson Miller (2-1), who allowed Philadelphia's two runs in the eighth, took the loss.

Cubs starter Shota Imanaga yielded three runs on six hits, struck out eight and walked one in six innings. The left-hander delivered a second straight solid outing after being shelled for 11 runs by the Mets on June 21.

The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the second on doubles down the right-field line by Happ and Crow-Armstrong.

Marchán’s solo shot to left-center tied it in the third.

Turner led off the sixth with a single. Bohm followed with a drive 415 feet to left center off low fastball to put Philadelphia ahead 3-2.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: Thomson said both Harper (strained left hamstring) and Schwarber (strained left groin) were “upping the intensity” of their rehabs. The two were placed on the 10-day injured list after getting hurt last Thursday in a 7-4 loss to Miami. … Realmuto (right knee pain), on the IL since June 10, has started receiving drills.

Cubs: RPH Yency Almonte got a second opinion on his strained right shoulder and has been shut down from throwing, manager Craig Counsell said. Almonte, on the 60-day IL dating to May 8, has to decide between a strength program or surgery.

UP NEXT

The Phillies send LHP Christopher Sanchez (6-3, 2.41) to the mound against Cubs RHP Jameson Taillon (4-4, 4.03) in the series finale on Thursday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch slides into home to score on a single from Cody Bellinger during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Philadelphia Phillies Trea Turner scores on a sacrifice fly from Edmundo Sosa during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' pitcher Luke Little throws against the Philadelphia Phillies during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' pitcher Luke Little throws to first to force out Philadelphia Phillies' Bryson Stott during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm runs the bases to score on a single from Whit Merrifield during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Philadelphia Phillies Trea Turner celebrates after scoring on a sacrifice fly from Edmundo Sosa during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Philadelphia Phillies' Whit Merrifield hits a single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Philadelphia Phillies catcher Rafael Marchán, left, and pitcher José Alvarado celebrate their 5-3 win over the Chicago Cubs in a baseball game Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Three years on from losing the European Championship final on penalties, England beat Switzerland in a shootout to reach the semifinals of Euro 2024.

Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the winner as England swept all of its penalties to win the shootout 5-3 after a 1-1 draw in extra time on Saturday.

“The team showed a lot of character, belief, heart and spirit out there,” Alexander-Arnold told the BBC.

England converted its first four penalties and Alexander-Arnold won the game with the fifth, blasting his shot into the top corner. Another who scored was Bukayo Saka, who missed the last penalty kick of the final shootout in 2021 and was racially abused on social media.

Saka also equalized earlier to ensure the game went to extra time after the Swiss took the lead.

The other shootout scorers were Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham and Ivan Toney, who returned in January from an eight-month ban for breaching betting rules.

England was in the lead in the shootout after goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saved from Manuel Akanji, who took Switzerland's first penalty kick.

England goes on to play Turkey or the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday for a spot in the final.

Switzerland, which has never reached the semifinals of a major tournament, exits the European Championship on penalties in the quarterfinals for the second time running after defeat to Spain three years ago.

It was the second game in a row that England left it late to win, after beating Slovakia 2-1 in extra time in the last 16.

The quarterfinal went to extra time after England forward Saka scored with a shot off the post in the 80th minute to cancel out Breel Embolo's goal five minutes earlier for Switzerland. It was the first shot on target for England in what was otherwise a cagey and cautious performance from the 2021 runner-up.

The Swiss had the better chances to win in extra time, including substitute Xherdan Shaqiri hitting the frame of the goal direct from a corner. Pickford saved from substitute Zeki Amdouni in the 119th to keep England in the game.

England was without captain and striker Harry Kane for the shootout after he collided with manager Gareth Southgate on the touchline while challenging for a ball and appeared to be hurt. He was replaced by Toney.

Taking charge of his 100th game on Saturday, Southgate has now taken England to at least the semifinals in three of the four major tournaments in his eight-year tenure.

AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024

Switzerland supporters react after their team lost in the quarterfinal match against England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

England's manager Gareth Southgate and his players celebrate their victory during a quarterfinal match between England and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Switzerland's players react after losing against England after the penalty shootout during a quarterfinal match between England and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Switzerland players watch the penalty shootout during a quarterfinal match between England and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

England's Bukayo Saka reacts after scoring by penalty during a quarterfinal match between England and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

England players celebrate after Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the winning goal during the penalty shootout of a quarterfinal match between England and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

England's Jude Bellingham, right, and England's Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrate after a quarterfinal match between England and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

England's Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates his team victory after the penalty shootout during a quarterfinal match between England and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

England's Trent Alexander-Arnold scores the winning goal during a penalty shootout during a quarterfinal match between England and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

England's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, right, celebrates with tEngland's Trent Alexander-Arnold after a quarterfinal match between England and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

England fans gather at BOXPark, Wembley, London, Saturday, July 6, 2024, to watch a screening of the quarterfinal match between England and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament played in Duesseldorf, Germany. (James Manning/PA via AP)

Switzerland's Remo Freuler, rignth, and England's Kyle Walker fight for the ball during a quarterfinal match between England and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

England's Jude Bellingham, left, and Switzerland's Manuel Akanji challenge for the ball during a quarterfinal match between England and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

A Swiss fan shows a sign reading "Apres-Ski better than Afternoon Tea" ahead of the Euro 2024 quarterfinal soccer match between Switzerland and England in Dusseldorf, Germany, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa via AP)