Miami’s big 1st inning helps earn series split
MIAMI — In a week that could have been their unofficial demise, the Miami Marlins remained very much alive.
They beat the Chicago Cubs, 4-2, on Sunday for a series split with the defending World Series champions, who drew the bulk of the nearly 100,000 fans who showed up to Marlins Park for the four games.
Miami’s 4-3 week began with a series victory over the Washington Nationals, the runaway NL East leaders, squeaking out two wins in three games to open this critical homestand.
The Marlins remain far behind in the playoff picture — double-digit games back in the division and wild-card races — but with a degree of stick-to-itiveness that they lacked in May, they are treading water as June nears its close.
“It’s a good sign that we’re able to scratch a few wins in there,” manager Don Mattingly said. “In general, we’ve kind of rebounded and started to play better. The attitudes are going to be better when you’re winning some games.”
On Sunday, the Marlins did it again with a minimal amount of offense. They recorded only five hits, the fourth time in five games they’ve had that many or fewer — though they have managed a 3-2 record in that stretch.
The Marlins opened the scoring with three runs in the first inning. Marcell Ozuna lined a single to center to score Ichiro Suzuki, who had reached on an error. Martin Prado came through with a two-out, two-run double to left-center.
After that, the Miami bats went quiet, much as they did Saturday after a productive first inning. The Marlins put one runner in scoring position the rest of the way, and Cubs lefty Mike Montgomery retired his final 10 batters through the sixth inning.
The Miami bullpen made sure that was enough. After Jarlin Garcia pitched an easy sixth, David Phelps navigated trouble for 1 2⁄3 scoreless innings. AJ Ramos finished it off by retiring all four batters he faced, including Anthony Rizzo as the wouldbe tying run in the eighth.
This was Ramos’ second four-out save of the month, the first coming June 7, also against the Cubs. With some of his go-to relievers unavailable, Mattingly was pleased with being able to stretch Phelps and Ramos for the final three innings.
“I’ve been paying attention to how much guys have been used,” Ramos said. “Coming into today’s game I knew it could be one-plus. I told Donnie and [pitching coach Juan Nieves] I’m always down to throw multiple innings if needed. That’s why I train so much.”
Giancarlo Stanton homered in the seventh, a liner to left, for an insurance run. His 20th of the year tied him with Ozuna for the team lead.
That right-hander Edinson Volquez lasted five innings and allowed just two runs was a minor miracle. He gave up five hits and walked five batters while striking out four, the third start in a row he had more free passes than punchouts.
Volquez loaded the bases twice, including in the second on three walks, but the Cubs came away with only one run in those chances.
Chicago scored on a pair of sacrifice flies, from Anthony Rizzo in the fourth and Tommy La Stella in the fifth.
“I think I got used to it, pitching from the stretch,” Volquez said, laughing. “I walked a couple of guys and got myself into some trouble, but I was able to make some pitches to get out of those innings.”
Volquez has walked 49 batters this season, more than anybody except Colorado’s Tyler Chatwood (50).