Chicago Cubs edged 2-1 by Miami Marlins in series opener

Stanton-less Marlins edge Cubs

Well, after completing the season series sweep of the New York Mets yesterday, the Chicago Cubs fell victim to yet another one-run loss, this time to the Miami Marlins in the series opener at Wrigley Field by the final score of 2-1.

Starting pitcher Jason Hammel gave up the lead during the top half of the first inning on a solo bomb by 2014 N.L. Gold Glove winner, Christian Yelich. Yelich turned on an 83 miles per hour slider and sent it out to the center field bleachers to give the Marlins (35-46) the 1-0 lead.

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Chicago (42-36) was able to respond back in the home half of the frame with a two-out double by Kris Bryant. Bryant has struggled over the last week but did have himself an extra base hit in New York and later came around to score to put the Cubs on the board, like today with Miguel Montero in the batter’s box.

Montero – who launched a two-run shot in yesterday’s win – drove in Bryant with an RBI single to the right fielder, Ichiro Suzuki to even things up at one apiece.

Hammel (5-4, 2.89 ERA) was the losing pitcher in today’s ballgame but didn’t necessarily have himself a terrible outing. In seven innings of work, the 32-year-old right-hander surrendered both runs on five hits while issuing only one walk and striking out five batters.

His counterpart, Tom Koehler (7-4, 3.52 ERA), pitched well for the visiting Marlins. Despite working one inning less than Hammel, Koehler held the Cubs to just one earned runs on five hits with one walk and four punch outs prior to handing the rest of the workload to his bullpen that helped sweep the defending World Series Champions. 

With the game deadlocked at 1-1 in the sixth inning and Hammel still on the mound, first baseman Justin Bour stepped up to the plate having homered in the team’s last three games.

Sure enough, Bour extended that impressive home run streak to four games on a solo bomb to deep right-center field which gave the Marlins the late 2-1 advantage. He’ll have the opportunity to tie injured Giancarlo Stanton who just happens to be the last Marlin to accomplish this feat.

Despite the Chicago Cubs falling to the Marlins, it was great to see legendary Harry Caray conducting the seventh inning streak. Former reliever and starting pitcher, Ryan Dempster, stood out with the fans in right field to help introduce one of the most beloved broadcasting icons in the history of sports.

The North Siders will attempt to bounce back tomorrow as Donn Roach picks up his second start of the season opposite Jarred Cosart.

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