Marlins Drop Cubs

     The Miami Marlins finished up their short three-game homestand with a 7-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night. The Fish have won four of their last five home games along with their two recent series. They now travel to Denver for a weekend series with the Colorado Rockies.
     Miami(22-32) compiled four runs during a rally in the second inning against Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester. Marcell Ozuna got a one-out single to center field and advanced to second on a base hit to left by Ichiro Suzuki. J.T. Realmuto knocked in Ozuna with a stand-up double down the left-field line for a 1-0 lead. Adeiny Hechavarria followed with an infield single up the middle to score Ichiro from third base.
     After Dan Haren popped out on a bunt attempt to the right side, Dee Gordon barely beat out an infield hit to short and Realmuto crossed the plate. Martin Prado made it a four-run lead for the Fish when he drove Hechavarria in on an RBI-single to right field.
     The Marlins extended their margin to 6-0 on back-to-back home runs. Giancarlo Stanton came up with one out and crushed his 17th homer of the season on a 2-1 pitch to center field. Jeff Baker followed with a round-tripper as he hit one to left with a 0-2 count.
     Chicago(27-24) broke the shutout during the top of the sixth inning as they got three runs. Anthony Rizzo was able to walk with one out then Junior Lake blasted a two-run homer to left field on a 0-1 pitch. Later in the frame, Matt Szczur singled to center field and brought in Starlin Castro on the play.
     The Fish added one more run in the bottom of the sixth. Hechavarria led off with a double to left-center field. Three batters later, he scored on an infield single by Prado against Edwin Jackson.