PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies clung to a one-run lead as Taijuan Walker, the newly minted one-inning reliever, trotted out of the bullpen to pitch the bottom of the sixth inning. Only, the right-hander didn’t know just how close the game was.
Walker, a converted starter who spoke candidly on Tuesday night about the adjustments his new role has required, didn’t check the score before he entered the game. He thought Philadelphia was leading by two runs, so it came as a surprise when he saw the two-run home run he gave up to Ian Happ put the Cubs ahead in an eventual 8-4 Chicago victory at Citizens Bank Park.