PHILADELPHIA — Before the first pitch here on Sunday, the top four hitters in the Chicago Cubs’ lineup stood in a row before the third base dugout at Citizens Bank Park. Daniel Murphy, Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant crouched in their stances and waved their bats, staring down the Phillies’ starting pitcher, Aaron Nola. They could have been grizzlies at feeding time.

Nola was not intimidated; he has been one of the majors’ best pitchers this season, and he struck out seven of his first nine hitters. But that menacing line of sluggers devoured him eventually, just as it has so many others this season.

The Cubs are pulling away from the jumble of National League contenders. They chased Nola in the sixth inning Sunday on their way to an 8-1 victory, improving to a season-best 26 games over .500. Nola had allowed only two home runs in his previous 12 starts, but Murphy, Rizzo and Baez all connected off him this time.

“We’ve been playing as well as we’ve played all year over the last two weeks, and also the most difficult part of our schedule,” Manager Joe Maddon said. “The guys have been doing wonderfully.”