Baez, Cubs sink Marlins in series opener
Javier Baez led the charge for the Cubs by going 3-for-5 at the plate. (Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)

Baez, Cubs sink Marlins in series opener


by - Senior Writer -

MIAMI, Fla. — Wasting no time in asserting their dominance over the Miami Marlins (4-13), the Chicago Cubs (6-9) took a 3-0 lead in the first inning of a 3-game set at Marlins Park and did not look back. A combination of starting pitcher Yu Darvish's first quality outing of the season and clutch hitting with runners on base culminated in the Cubs picking up a 7-2 victory in the series opener on Monday. For his efforts, Darvish earned the win.

Marlins starting pitcher Trevor Richards hindered his cause with a throwing error on an attempted pick-off in the top of the first. Cubs slugger Kris Bryant, who initially reached base after getting hit by a pitch, was hit by the pick-off throw that ricocheted into the outfield and was then hit by the subsequent throw to third base. Bryant was rewarded for his battle wounds soon afterwards, when a bases-loaded walk of catcher Willson Contreras forced him home. Third baseman David Bote then came through with a 2-run double to left that made the score 3-0. All three runs were scored with two outs.

Miami tacked on two unanswered runs after that, including a solo jack from catcher Chad Wallach in the fourth. Bryant made up for it with a double off Richards in the ensuing inning. Shortstop Javier Baez followed that up a few at-bats later with an RBI double to right. Baez went 3-for-5 at the dish and was scored later in the fifth via a Bote groundout.

Leading 5-2 at that point, the Cubs went on to add a few insurance runs to their total. Contreras crushed a 420-foot moonshot in the seventh for his sixth home run of the year. The backstop then collected his third RBI of the evening in the ninth on a single to center field that plated first baseman Anthony Rizzo. The Fish were limited to six hits in the 7-2 contest, with Darvish giving up four hits and striking out eight in 5 2/3 innings of work. Richards, on the other hand, was charged with five runs on four hits and four walks and was handed the loss.

Comment on this story
Print   
Send Feedback to Cole Little: Email | Comment
Post your comments!