Cubs Stepped Over By Marlins

     The Chicago Cubs collapsed to the Miami Marlins 6-5 at Wrigley Field on Monday night. It was the first contest of a four-game series between both clubs. The Cubs won their eighth consecutive games while the Marlins lost their fourth straight. The Marlins snapped their three-game losing streak while the Cubs snapped a seven-game winning streak.
     The first inning was controlled by Chicago(19-13). Anthony Rizzo hit his 200th career home run as he blasted a two-run homer over the center-field fence on a 2-1 pitch. Wilson Contreras later knocked in Javier Baez on a base hit to left field.
     Miami(10-24) got on the scoreboard in the top of the third. Brian Anderson lined a double to the right-field wall for Miguel Rojas to score. The Fish then loaded bases and Martin Prado scored on sacrifice fly by Starlin Castro to right-center field.
     The Marlins tied it up 3-3 in the sixth inning. Jon Berli pounded his first career home run to center field on the first pitch.
     The Cubs regained the lead during the bottom of the frame. Kyle Schwarber drove in Contreras with a single to right.
     In the ninth inning, the Fish loaded the bases. Rosell Herrera was able to walk and Curtis Granderson crossed the plate. They took a 5-4 lead when Rojas grounded out to second which brought in Berti. Miami added another run when Neil Walker scored from third on a ground out to the pitcher by Martin Prado.
     The Cubbies closed the gap to 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth. Kris Bryant blasted a home run to left field on a 1-0 count with one out.

Braves Sweep Marlins

     The Atlanta Braves edged the Miami Marlins 3-1 in 10 innings on Sunday at Marlins Park. The Marlins have won only two of their last 10 games. The Braves have won five of their last seven games.
     There was no scoring in the contest until the seventh inning by Atlanta(18-16). Nick Markakis led off the frame and smacked a solo home run to right field on a 0-2 pitch.
     It would be tied by Miami(9-24) during the bottom of the eighth. Brian Anderson connected with a single into left field which scored Jon Berti.
     The Braves put together two runs in the 10th inning to go ahead. Ender Inciarte doubled down the left-field line and Max Fried crossed the plate. Charlie Culberson followed with a sacrifice fly to right field that brought in Inciarte.

Braves Slam Marlins

     The Atlanta Braves handled the Miami Marlins 9-2 at Marlins Park on Saturday night. The Marlins still hold the worst record in Major League Baseball.
     Peter O'Brien returned to the majors and gave Miami(9-23) a 2-0 lead in the first inning. He drove in Jorge Alfaro and Jon Berti with a single into center field.
     The comeback for Atlanta(17-16) happened in the sixth inning with five runs. Brian McCann doubled to left field for Nick Markakis to score. Three batters later, Ozzie Albies smashed a grand-slam homer to right field on a 1-2 pitch with two out. Dansby Swanson, McCann and Ender Inciarte all crossed the plate on the play.
     The Braves compiled four more runs in the top of the seventh. McCann knocked in Ronald Acuna Jr. and Markakis with a base hit to right-center field. Mike Soroka later singled into right and Swanson scored. Albies came up next and reached base on an infield single for McCann to score.

Braves Defeat Marlins

     The Atlanta Braves topped the Miami Marlins 7-2 on Friday night at Marlins Park.

Scott Kaplan Moves From Radio

     Former local sportscaster Scott Kaplan has started co-hosting a sports show with Billy Ray Smith on YouTube. He recently was the afternoon co-host XEPRS-AM. The organization Broadcast Company of Americas lost use of a leased transmitter in Tijuana, Mexico several weeks ago and last week decided to scrap the radio station entirely.
     Kaplan, a Coral Springs High School grad, was a former kicker for the University of Pittsburgh. He broke into the broadcasting business in the late 1990s with Sports Radio 560 WQAM-AM as a sports anchor.
     He co-hosted a sports show with Sid Rosenberg on CBSSportsline.com in Fort Lauderdale and WNEW-FM in New York City at the turn of the century. Kaplan moved to San Diego and has worked at different broadcasting organizations which included XETRA-AM as a sports co-host, CBS Sports as an NFL sideline reporter, Westwood One as an NFL sideline reporter and Fox Sports San Diego as a studio host.

Michael Irvin Joins Radio.com

     Former University of Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Michael Irvin has joined Radio.com as a football insider. He will continue as a football studio analyst on NFL Network.
     Irvin, a St. Thomas Aquinas High School grad, had previously done radio work at Sports Radio 560 WQAM-AM as a sports host on that station for two years. Irvin began as a midday host with sidekick Kevin Kiley in July 2010. Kiley left the show in August 2011 and Curtis Stevenson was added as Irvin's sidekick.
     Irvin was shifted to an earlier start of late mornings in January 2012 as the organization plugged in Adam Kuperstein and Steve Goldstein. Irvin ended his run with WQAM in July 2012. He also once co-hosted a midday program on KESN-FM in Dallas prior to his arrival in Miami.

Marlins End Indians

     The Miami Marlins stopped the Cleveland Indians 4-2 at Marlins Park on Wednesday night. Both clubs have faced each other twice in Miami and Cleveland over the past eight days.
     The Marlins got out ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first. Brian Anderson drove in Miguel Rojas with a base hit into center field.
     Cleveland(16-13) evened it up 1-1 in the third inning. Roberto Diaz lined a solo home run to left-center field on a 1-0 count.
     Miami(9-21) make it 3-1 during the fourth inning. Rosell Herrera doubled to right field which brought in Jorge Alfaro and Jon Berti.
     Herrera added an RBI-single to right field in the bottom of the sixth. Alfaro was able to score on the play for a 4-1 lead.
     The Indians cut the lead to 4-2 in the final inning. Carlos Santana blasted a solo homer to right-center field on a 1-1 pitch.