Chicago Cubs vs Miami Marlins Match Player Stats On Jun 24, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jun 24, 2017

MIAMI -- Javier Baez drove in three runs and Jon Lester finally completed his list of at least one win over all National League clubs as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Miami Marlins 5-3 on Saturday afternoon at Marlins Park.

Baez, who led all Cubs hitters with a .302 batting average in May, delivered a tie-breaking, two-run double in the sixth inning.

Lester (5-4) has defeated 29 of the 30 teams in the majors. The only exception is the Boston Red Sox, a team with which he used to play and has never faced.

Facing Miami for the fifth time on Saturday, Lester pitched seven innings and allowed three runs on four hits with one walk as the Cubs (38-36) took a 2-1 lead in this weekend's series, which concludes on Sunday.

Miami (33-40) was led by J.T. Realmuto, who cranked a three-run homer, his seventh long ball of the season.

Marlins starter Justin Nicolino allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits in four innings, escaping with a no-decision. Reliever Nick Wittgren (1-1) took the loss, allowing two runs in one inning.

Chicago got to Nicolino right away. Leadoff batter Jon Jay, a former University of Miami star, singled in the first and advanced to second when center fielder Christian Yelich bobbled the ball. Jay moved to third on Willson Contreras' single and scored on a two-out, opposite-field hit by Ian Happ.

Miami grabbed the lead back in the bottom of the first. After Giancarlo Stanton walked and Yelich singled, Realmuto lofted his three-run homer to left.

Chicago tied the score 3-3 with two runs in the fourth. Addison Russell singled, advanced on a Happ sacrifice bunt and scored on Baez's single to left. Albert Almora, a Miami native, capped the inning with an RBI double.

The Cubs took a 5-3 lead in the sixth as the first three batters in the inning all got hits. Russell doubled, Happ singled, and Baez hit his two-run double off the wall in right.

Carl Edwards pitched a scoreless eighth, and Wade Davis did the same in the ninth, earning his 15th save of the year.

NOTES: Former Florida State RB Dalvin Cook, now the Minnesota Vikings' second-round pick, threw out the first pitch. ... Marlins SS Adeiny Hechavarria (oblique) may be ready to come off the disabled list on Tuesday against the New York Mets. ... Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (tendinitis) is hoping to return before next month's All-Star Game. ... Cubs 2B Ben Zobrist (left wrist inflammation) was eligible to come off the disabled list on Friday but his return is not imminent. ... The Cubs have won 11 fewer games than last year at this same point, and most of that can be traced to the rotation. Last year, Cubs starters had a 2.36 ERA compared to 4.45 this season. ... The Marlins signed their top three draft picks, including first-rounder LHP Trevor Rogers. Also on that list is 3B Joe Dunand, who is Alex Rodriguez's nephew.