Cubs extend winning streak with win over Marlins
CHICAGO -- Kris Bryant and Albert Almora Jr. homered while starter Eddie Butler allowed just one run in a 5 2/3-inning outing as the Chicago Cubs beat the Miami Marlins 3-1 on Monday in the opener of a three-game series.
The Cubs (29-27) won their fourth straight while Miami (24-32) saw a three-game winning streak snapped.
Bryant went 1-for-4 with a first-inning homer, and Almora was 2-for-3 with a fourth-inning blast on a chilly evening with temperatures in the upper 50s and strong winds from the north.
Butler (3-1) picked up his third win since a May 12 call-up. Marlins starter Dan Straily (4-4) saw a three-game winning streak snapped.
Butler sailed into the sixth inning with a 3-0 lead before giving up two doubles and a run.
JT Riddle's two-base hit to deep center led off the inning. Riddle reached third on Straily's grounder to second and scored on Dee Gordon's sacrifice fly to center.
Butler then gave up a double to Giancarlo Stanton and was pulled with two outs for left-handed reliever Mike Montgomery, who got Christian Yelich on an inning-ending groundout.
Butler allowed three hits, walked one and struck out four.
Straily worked seven innings before he was pulled for a pinch hitter. He allowed three runs on six hits, struck out five and walked none.
Montgomery pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings and earned his second save. He gave up three hits and struck out three without issuing a walk.
The Cubs grabbed a 2-0 lead on just three first-inning pitches from Straily.
Ben Zobrist led off with a double off the center field wall, and Bryant brought him home, hitting a 1-0 pitch to left for his team-leading 13th homer of the season.
The Marlins threatened in the second but came up empty.
Marcell Ozuna doubled to lead off the inning and J.T. Realmuto followed with a walk. Derek Dietrich grounded into a double play and Tyler Moore flied to left to end the inning.
Jason Heyward almost added a run in the Cubs' fourth with a long drive to right, but it was caught by Stanton on the warning track.
The next batter, Almora, followed with a shot with more distance. His two-out solo home run landed in the left field bleachers to give the Cubs a 3-0 lead. It was his third homer of the season.
NOTES: The Marlins arrived in Chicago on the heels of an 8-2 homestand, tied for second best in franchise history. ... Miami RHP Edinson Volqquez was named NL Player of the Week for May 29-June 4 following a 2-0 week that included last Saturday's no-hitter against Arizona. ... The Marlins send LHP Jeff Locke (0-0, 1.59 ERA) against Chicago RHP Jake Arrieta (5-4, 4.60 ERA) on Tuesday. ... The Cubs placed RHP Wade Davis on the paternity list and recalled RHP Dylan Floro from Triple-A Iowa. ... The Cubs' 7-6 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday featured a two-decade gap between stars as 22-year-old Ian Happ had a multi-homer game while Koji Uehara, 42, earned his second save of the season. ... Chicago LHP Brett Anderson, on the disabled list since May 7 with low back strain, was scheduled to throw a three-inning simulated game on Monday as part of his rehabilitation. There's no return date yet for a return to the Cubs.