Marlins Score Early, Defeat Cubs 4-2

The Miami Marlins scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back in Sunday afternoon's 4-2 victory over the defending champion Chicago Cubs.

Ichiro Suzuki reached first base on an Addison Russell throwing error to begin the game and later scored on a Marcell Ozuna single to center, giving Miami an early 1-0 lead. Martin Prado extended that lead after smacking a double to left that scored Justin Bour, who drew a walk before the Ozuna RBI single, and Ozuna to put the Marlins ahead 3-0.

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Edinson Volquez received his second consecutive start against a tough opponent Sunday and rebounded well against the Cubs. He held Chicago to just two runs on five hits but struggled with his control, walking five batters in five innings of work. edThis was a big improvement from his previous two starts against the Oakland Athletics and Washington Nationals -- games in which Volquez didn’t reach the fifth inning. The veteran righty struggled in those outings, allowing 10 earned runs on nine hits and walked nine in 8.2 innings of work. In his previous three outings, Volquez was dynamite, allowing just one earned run on six hits over 22 innings, including his no-hitter against the Diamondbacks.

He was able to keep Chicago off the scoreboard until the fourth inning Sunday. Tommy La Stella and Javier Baez singled to start the frame before starting pitcher Mike Montgomery struck out looking. Jon Jay then recorded the Cubs third single of the inning to load the bases with Anthony Rizzo on deck. The Cubs first baseman hit the ball to deep left, which drove in Chicago’s first run of the game to cut the Marlins lead to 3-1. Volquez was then able to strike out Kris Bryant to escape the jam without allowing any more damage.

Giancarlo Stanton smashed his 20th home run in the seventh inning to extend the Marlins lead to 4-2 and give the bullpen an extra insurance run to close out the game.

The Miami ‘pen began its relief in the sixth inning when Jarlin Garcia entered the game. Garcia, along with David Phelps and A.J. Ramos, shut down the Cubs in the latter innings to help give Miami a 4-2 victory and split the four-game series.

Miami (34-40) has Monday off before beginning a three-game home series against the New York Mets. Dan Straily will get the nod Tuesday night versus Robert Gsellman.