Trea Turner blasts off, Michael Mercado impresses in first major-league start for Phillies NBC Sports Philadelphia [Video]

CHICAGO — Two weeks ago, Michael Mercado was in Allentown starting against the Norfolk Tides.

Taijuan Walker was healthy. Spencer Turnbull was healthy. The idea of Mercado finding himself on the mound at Wrigley Field for his first major-league start in front of the best team in baseball just two Tuesdays later would have sounded far-fetched.

Yet there he was for the Phillies’ series opener against the Cubs, making the first of what could be five starts leading into the July 30 trade deadline.

The 25-year-old rookie allowed hard contact here and there — mostly to Cody Bellinger — but had a promising introduction to the Phillies’ rotation by allowing just one run on two hits over five innings in a 6-4 win, a job well done for any team’s fifth starter.

Mercado had two on with two outs and a 2-0 count to Ian Happ in the first inning …