The Cubs took two of three from the Marlins in Miami, continuing to maintain their one-game lead over the Phillies. Chicago opened the series with a 6-1 win Friday before holding on for a 6-5 victory Saturday. Miami responded Sunday with a 10-3 win, but the Cubs still walked away with a series victory.
Chicago relied on timely offense and strong pitching in Friday's opener. Shota Imanaga allowed just one run over six innings, while the Cubs used small-ball to manufacture runs. Pedro Ramírez drove in two, Nico Hoerner collected three hits and an RBI, and Michael Busch provided insurance with a 427-foot solo homer in the ninth. Pete Crow-Armstrong also continued to impact the game in multiple ways, stealing his 33rd base, scoring twice and making a leaping catch to rob Heriberto Hernández of extra bases. The win also extended Alex Bregman's hitting streak to eight games.
The Cubs followed it up with another close win Saturday. Michael Conforto's solo homer and Ian Happ's two-run single gave Chicago a 3-0 lead in the third. PCA added an RBI single in the fourth before Hoerner's RBI single in the fifth made it 5-2. Miami did not go quietly, including homers from Griffin Conine and Kyle Stowers, but Michael Busch's RBI single in the sixth proved to be the difference. Javier Assad allowed three runs in 4⅔ innings, recalled from Triple-A Saturday, while Ryan Rolison and Ryan Zeferjahn helped the Cubs survive late. Zeferjahn recorded the final five outs.
Sunday brought the biggest individual moment of the series despite the loss. PCA hit his 40th home run of the season, becoming the first Cubs player to reach 40 home runs since 2005. He joined Billy Williams as only the second left-handed hitter in Cubs history to reach 40 homers in a season.
After the game, Crow-Armstrong told MLB.com, “It’s nice to share it with my teammates. It’s been a really easy offense to hit in and produce in, so I think it’s nice sharing it with them.”
After the Cubs tied the game 3-3, Miami erupted for five runs in the fifth inning. Clay Holmes allowed eight runs over 4⅓ innings, and the Marlins added two more in the seventh to finish off a 10-3 victory. Heriberto Hernández and Javier Sanoja homered for Miami, while former star prospect Owen Caissie delivered a two-run single.
Despite Sunday’s loss, taking two of three was crucial. The Cubs remain in the Wild Card picture, and PCA's historic power surge gives the team another reason for optimism heading into the final stretch.
