Marlins Beat Cubs, Avoid Sweep and Winless Homestand

The Miami Marlins wrapped up their weekend series against the Chicago Cubs and won 7-2. They avoided the series sweep and a winless homestand.

It was a good day for the Marlins offense. They opened up their scoring in the first inning with a pair of home runs. Connor Norby homered for the fourth time this season, and it was on the first pitch of the at-bat. Shortly afterward, Jesús Sánchez hit his 16th homer of the season. They would get the rest of their runs in the bottom of the third and eighth innings. Overall, the offense came up with 11 hits on the afternoon.

Despite the seven runs scored by Miami, Chicago starting pitcher Javier Assad went seven innings giving up three runs on six hits and one walk, striking out three batters.

Miami starter Adam Oller was the winning pitcher in his second start of the season. He tossed five and two-thirds innings allowing a run on four hits and two walks, striking out six batters.

The only two runs scored against Marlins pitching was a Christian Bethancourt RBI single in the second inning, and then Ian Happ hit a run-scoring ground-rule double in the ninth.

Chicago falls a game under .500 at 65-66. They are five and a half games behind the third wild-card spot in a tight National League race.

Miami, meanwhile, is now 47-83. They will be in Denver starting tomorrow night to open a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies with Edward Cabrera on the mound. It's currently unknown who will start for Colorado tomorrow.