Cubs Maul Marlins

     The Miami Marlins challenged the Chicago Cubs and were blasted 8-3 on Friday at Wrigley Field.  The Marlins had to wait and extra day due to a postponed game on Thursday to start their seven-game road swing. The Cubs now have a 6-1 record at home. 

     Chicago(12-7) busted out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Cody Bellinger singled through the right side for Nico Hoerner to score. Two batters later, Dansby Swanson doubled to the center-field warning track and Patrick Wisdom scored.

     The Cubbies increased their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the second. Hoerner drove in Nick Madrigal with a double to left field. 

     In the third inning, the Cubs extended it with four more runs for a seven-run margin. Former Marlin Garrett Cooper singled into shallow center field and Bellinger crossed the plate. Madrigal followed with a force out at second and Christopher Morel sprinted home. Miguel Amaya came up next and doubled off the center-field wall which brought in Swanson and Madrigal.  

     Miami(4-16) had a response in the top of the fourth and were behind 7-1. Bryan De La Cruz homered to left-center field on a 2-1 pitch for his fourth home run of the year. De La Cruz had a home run for the second straight contest. It was the sixth straight game for De La Cruz with an extra-base hit and he extended his hitting streak to seven games. 

     The Cubs made it 8-1 in the fifth inning. Mike Tauchman knocked in Swanson on a base hit into right field. 

     The Marlins chalked up two runs in the top of the ninth. Nick Gordon singled into left field for Josh Bell and Otto Lopez to score.