Marlins veteran Haren a pseudo pitching coach Bryant provides fireworks in 7-2 win over Marlins
CHICAGO— When aging starters like Marlins veteran pitcher Dan Haren lose several miles-per-hour off their once dominating fastball they are forced to become students of the game.
While Haren isn’t ready to retire or take the job of Marlins pitching coach Chuck Hernandez, his sage advice to Miami’s young core of starters has begun to pay dividends in a flurry of quality outings.
“Guys are coming into their own and 13-14 starts with [rookie catcher J.T. Realmuto] helps,’’ said Marlins right-hander Tom Koehler, 26, who’s 7-4 after stringing three straight sixplus innings victories. “Dan has been helping guys out a lot with scouting reports and just how to handle certain situations.
“I know he wouldn’t want to admit it or anything, but he’s been huge for us, a huge asset.’’
Haren, 34, has played for six teams over 13 seasons while compiling a 148-127 record (6-5 this season).
“If they need something I try to help them out,’’ Haren said. “[Tom’s] putting it together the last month, so I don’t take much credit for it at all. I help them with a little bit of the scouting stuff what I’ve learned through the years.
“Just how to look at hitters and developing a game plan going into the game. But when it comes down to it, it’s always up to the pitcher to execute the game plan.’’
Marlins manager Dan Jennings appreciates the extra coach in the clubhouse.
“To have a mentor like this who has been our most consistent performer [is tremendous],’’ Jennings said. “Knowing he’s getting oneon-one time with these guys and sharing with them his experiences both positive and negative, I think it’s go- ing to speed up their growth, and also help them understand [that] Haren throws 88 [mph] and you do not have to throw every pitch max out. It is the location, the executing one pitch to the next and who’s on deck.’’
Bour out
Despite hitting four homers in the last four games, Jennings went with his usual lefty-righty platoon by starting Jeff Baker over Justin Bour after the Cubs changed their starting pitcher to newly acquired lefthander Clayton Richard.
“It’s the formula we have had,’’ Jennings said. “Nothing is more important than the team.’’
Of Bour’s 10 homers, all have come against righthanders, who he’s batting .283 against versus .154 against left handers. …
Bour is the second Marlin to drive in the game-winning run with a homer in three straight games, joining Miguel Cabrera (2004). …
Jennings said sidelined first baseman Mike Morse (finger, back) will get two final rehab starts for Single-A Jupiter and most likely meet the team in Boston. …
Former NFL quarterback and Chicago native Donovan McNabb threw out the first pitch.
Patriotic feeling
Marlins closer A.J. Ramos, a Texas native, couldn’t wait to watch the first postgame, fireworks display at Wrigley Field since 1914 when it was Weeghman Park.
“I’m definitely going to watch it,’’ Ramos said. “On this day when you were in your backyard playing with your friends acting like you hit a home run, kind of like that scene from Sandlot. And being able to do it in real life and getting paid for it is beyond amazing.’’
CHICAGO — On the fifth day Justin Bour rested.
While the rookie lefthanded swinging Bour didn’t break the franchise record by hitting a home run in his fifth straight game, Cubs rookie Kris Bryant provided his own fireworks in an impressive 4th of July display on national television.
Bryant crushed two home runs in the first two innings, including a grand slam, to ignite the fuse of a 7-2 loss, putting an abrupt end to the Marlins’ fourgame winning streak.
The Marlins outhit the Cubs10-4 but were an ugly1 for 14 with runners in scoring position. They couldn’t overcome the Grand Canyon-like chasm that starter Jarred Cosart put them in early. Hopefully, Cosart didn’t get a relapse of his recent bout with vertigo.
Cosart was making his first start since June 25 when dizzy spells landed him on the disabled list.
“Momentum stopped for us and that was on me,’’ said Cosart, who was sent down to AAA-New Orleans after the game. “I got behind hitters, fastball counts … got behind Bryant 2-0, 3-1, They made me pay.
“I was messing around for a month going around all over the place trying to figure out what was going on, I guess this was my chance. Obviously, I didn’t pitch well. … Small leash I guess.’’
The fireworks began early. After a leadoff double by Dexter Fowler, Bryant Stantonized Cosart ’s 98-mph first-pitch fastball to the last row of the leftfield bleachers approximately 423 feet away. Marlins left fielder Christian Yelich didn’t move a muscle on contact.
Cosart couldn’t find the plate in the second inning as he gave up an infield single and three walks to force in a run. Up came Bryant, who’s battling Dodgers rookie Joc Pederson (20 homers) for NL Rookie of the Year honors. The lanky third baseman drove a 3-1 fastball over the left-field ivy for his second career grand slam and 12th homer of the season.
In his second multi-homer game Bryant set a career-high with six RBI and became the third Cubs rookie to have two grand salamis in club history.
The Cubs could’ve began their first postgame firework show in 101 years right then as Cosart’s disastrous line read, 1 innings, four hits, seven runs and three walks, to send his ERA soaring from 4.12 to 5.34.
“His command wasn’t there tonight,’’ Marlins manager Dan Jennings said. “He left some balls centercut to Bryant and he made him pay. Offensively, we had 10 hits, just not in scoring position. That’s too deep of a hole to crawl out of.’’
Meanwhile, newly acquired Cubs starter lefthander Clayton Richard (from Pirates), who was making his first start since June 21, 2013 (shoulder surgery), wriggled out of several jams. He went 6 in-
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Upcoming series nings and gave up two runs on eight hits to pick up his first victory since June 16, 2013 against Arizona.
Bour, who was platooned because Richard’s a lefty, entered the game in the seventh and struck out. He walked with two outs in the ninth before J.T. Realmuto ended the game by whiffing against reliever Pedro Strop.