Hitting the longball
Bour, Yelich belt homers in Marlins’ 2-1 victory.
“To think we were able to get him for $12,500 out of the Rule 5 is tremendous credit to our player development staff.”
Dan Jennings,
Marlins manager on Justin Bour
CHICAGO — Justin Bour just might be the best bargain in sports.
Drafted by the Cubs in the 25th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, Bour languished in Chicago’s organization for five years before the Marlins pilfered him in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft in 2013 for a measly $12,500.
On a sparkling Friday afternoon in the renovated but still cathedral-like Wrigley Field, Bour, picking up the power slack from sidelined slugger Giancarlo Stanton, homered in his fourth straight game to lift the suddenly resurgent Marlins to a 2-1 victory over the light-hitting Cubs.
It was the Marlins fourth straight victory. Bour, who homered in three straight games earlier this season, tied a franchise record accomplished seven other times, with Marcell Ozuna doing it most recently (Sept. 8-11, 2014).
“It just goes to show you if you play hard and you play the right way there’s going to be a team out there who wants you,” said Bour, 27, a rookie who makes the major league minimum $507,500. “A homer in any park is cool. I got nothing but positive things to say about the Cubs and their organization.”
It’s Bour’s third game-winning bomb during the four-game streak, although not quite as dramatic as his three-run, walk-off blast in Wednesday’s 6-5 victory over the Giants. The Marlins were bolstered by six strong innings from starter Tom Koehler (7-4) and their other hottest-hitter, Christian Yelich, who crushed a homer over the center-field ivy in the first inning.
“The league adjusted to [Bour], he’s made
the adjustment back,” Marlins manager Dan Jennings said. “It’s fun to watch him right now, the zone that he’s in. … To think we were able to get him for $12,500 out of the Rule 5 is tremendous credit to our player development staff.
“That’s three straight quality starts by [Koehler]. He’s General Patton, blood and guts. He just comes out there and gives it to you every day.”
The Cubs answered immediately in the first when rookie phenom Kris Bryant smacked a two-out double to left and scored on Miguel Montero’s sharp single to right. Bryant is the first rookie in Cubs’ history with at least 10 homers (10), 40 runs scored (42) and 40 RBI (43) by the end of June.
Cubs starter Jason Hammel (5-4) found his groove and retired 14 straight batters until Bour turned on a center-cut fastball in the sixth inning and drove it over the right-field seats for homer No. 10. A rabid Cubs fan threw the ball back but Hammel couldn’t do the same as Bour — who also reached on a rare infield hit — is 7 of his last 17, including four homers, a double and eight RBI.
“Yelich hit his farther but … It don’t matter to me, [the fan] could’ve kept i t ,” smiled Bour, who has hit all 10 of his homers against right-handers.
Koehler’s breaking ball was sharp as he allowed five hits and one run while fanning four with one walk. In his last three starts, all wins, he’s given up just four runs over 20 innings (1.80 ERA).
“It was a solid team win and we’re playing really good baseball,” said Koehler. “It’s about the bullpen stepping up putting up three big zeros and Bour with a huge homer. I’m a fan of whatever he’s doing. They count more when they go over the fence.”
The Marlins threatened to break the game open in the eighth after Dee Gor- don swatted his majorleague leading 115th hit, and swiped second and third. However, Cubs reliever Travis Wood fanned J.T. Realmuto with the bases loaded to keep it a one-run game.
No matter as Marlins relievers Steve Cishek, Sam Dyson and A.J. Ramos combined on three shutout innings. Ramos helped himself with a terrific play on a sacrifice bunt attempt in which he nipped former Marlin Chris Coghlan at second base, thanks to a legsplitting stretch by shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.