Cubs 2, Marlins 1
Ryan Dempster pitched eight shutout innings as the Chicago Cubs held off Florida on Friday afternoon, 2-1, snapping the Marlins' six-game winning streak.
Dempster (7-6) struck out nine batters and surrendered just four hits, not allowing the Marlins to advance a runner past second base until the eighth inning.
Carlos Marmol, who allowed five runs in a blown save on Thursday night, allowed a two-out RBI single to Logan Morrison in the ninth, before Sean Marshall came on to strike out Mike Stanton for his second save of the year. Chicago center fielder Marlon Byrd threw out the potential tying run at second base when Hanley Ramirez tried to stretch a single into a double with one out in the final frame. It was Ramirez's 1,000th career hit.
The Cubs scored both of their runs on a fourth-inning error. Carlos Peña singled with one out in the fourth and advanced to third on a Byrd double, but Florida starter Ricky Nolasco (6-6) appeared poised to escape the frame unscathed before second baseman Omar Infante committed an error on an Alfonso Soriano grounder, allowing both runners to score.
Nolasco was the hard-luck loser, giving up just the two unearned runs, seven hits and a walk in seven innings of work. He finished the day with seven strikeouts.