Brad Miller homered three times Thursday. (Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire) Final Score: Phillies 8, Cubs 0 Somewhere, José Peraza smiles. Joe Girardi's decision to start Brad Miller and Travis Jankowski over Rhys Hoskins and Andrew McCutchen Thursday was met with quite a bit of criticism. But lefties have hit drastically better against Adbert Alzolay in 2021, so Girardi went without two of his hottest hitters in the series finale against the Chicago Cubs, and he was rewarded. J.T. Realmuto got the Phillies on the board in the top of the second, stealing home after Didi Gregorius successfully swiped second base: The BCIB is a 5-tool player! pic.twitter.com/PONImSbmdW— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) July 9, 2021 An inning later, Miller made Girardi look pretty smart, hitting a 401-foot opposite-field home run, Bamboo power! pic.twitter.com/LC1fnArEXa— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) July 9, 2021 In the top of the fifth inning, Miller hit a 400-foot home run, this time bringing himself and - who else - Jankowski home: The Great Bamboono strikes again! pic.twitter.com/Jtj5jbWFL0— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) July 9, 2021 The Phillies were able to put the game on ice in the seventh inning, starting with Miller's third home run of the game. His third bomb - a two-run shot - was the longest of the evening, this one going 418 feet: Brad Miller is the first Phillie in 13 years with three homers in a game. pic.twitter.com/K0LcNMA9Qy— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) July 9, 2021 Miller was the first Phillie since Jayson Werth in May of 2008 to hit three home runs in a game. Werth's performance came against the Toronto Blue Jays, back when his future teammate Roy Halladay was still playing north of the border. Shortly after Miller put on his third home run hat, Gregorius got into the fun, launching a two-run home run of his own: That’s SIR Didi to you! pic.twitter.com/OpHCTHzs2L— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) July 9, 2021 After six scoreless innings from Eflin, the trio of Archie Bradley, Héctor Neris and Ranger Suárez preserved the shutout, helping the Phillies to improve to 42-43. Shibe Vintage SportsStarting Pitching Performance Adbert Alzolay went five innings, allowing five hits and four runs. He surrendered two of Brad Miller's three home runs, or else it may have been a very different night for the righty. Zach Eflin didn't have his best stuff Thursday, but still managed to pitch six scoreless innings against the Cubs. The 27-year-old will head to the All-Star Break with a 3.88 ERA. Phillies Nugget Of The Game For the second consecutive evening, Didi Gregorius had a defensive misplay in the first inning. Gregorius entered the day with -7 defensive runs saved, despite having played in just 37 games. The lowest mark in the sport belongs to Alec Bohm, who has -14 defensive runs saved. Ticket IQNext Game Friday, July 9 vs. Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park7:10 p.m. ETTV: NBC Sports PhiladelphiaRadio: SportsRadio 94 WIP More From Phillies Nation Brian Barber On Mick Abel: 'He's Exactly What We Thought He Was Going To Be'Joe Girardi Is Feeling The HeatBrad Miller On Zack Wheeler: ‘It’s Cy Young, MVP – It’s All Of It’Exec On Gabe Kapler: 'He Learned A Lot Of Lessons' From Time With PhilliesPhillies Announce New Date For Roy Halladay Number Retirement CeremonySinclair Broadcast Group Makes Bid To Buy NBC Sports Philadelphia, Other Local NetworksA Fire Sale Isn’t Coming, But Selling Some Pieces May Make Sense For PhilliesJohn Kruk: Jimmy Rollins Is The Second Best Phillie Ever, Hall Of Fame WorthyFormer Minor League Star Dylan Cozens Now Chasing NFL CareerPhillies 2021 Walk-Up Songs Phillies Nation Podcast · Tim Kelly talks Gregorius, Brogdon and more on SportsRadio 94 WIP