The Chicago Cubs secured their sixth consecutive victory with a 5-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at home on Monday. Dansby Swanson provided the power with a three-run homer, while Colin Rea continued his dominant start to the season, throwing 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball.

Rea (3-0) was exceptional, allowing just one run on six hits. He struck out five and walked two in an efficient outing that kept the Phillies' offense in check. Alex Bregman added two hits for the Cubs, who have now won six games in a row.

On the mound for Philadelphia, Aaron Nola (1-2) struggled, giving up five runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out five but walked four. Justin Crawford drove in the lone run for the Phillies, who have now dropped six straight games.

The game remained scoreless through the first inning before the Cubs broke the deadlock in the second. After a pair of singles by Ian Happ and Moises Ballesteros and a walk by Michael Conforto, the Cubs loaded the bases. Miguel Amaya’s grounder turned into a double play, but the Cubs took a 1-0 lead.

With two outs, Pete Crow-Armstrong walked, setting up Swanson for a clutch 424-foot home run to make it 4-0. It was his fifth homer of the season.

In the third inning, Chicago added another run. Michael Busch singled, and Bregman doubled to set up a bases-loaded situation. Ballesteros walked, and Conforto’s sacrifice fly brought in a fifth run.

Crawford’s RBI double in the fourth cut the Phillies' deficit to 5-1, but that would be all Philadelphia could muster. Nola’s day ended after 88 pitches, with Kyle Backhus coming in for relief.

With the win, the Cubs improved to 15-7, while the Phillies fell to 10-12.

-Field Level Media/Reuters