Contreras pushes Cubs past Marlins
MIAMI -- Rookie catcher Willson Contreras homered in the first and hit the go-ahead, run-scoring single in the seventh to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 5-4 win over the Miami Marlins on Friday night at Marlins Park.
The Cubs (48-24), who have the best record in baseball, snapped a season-worst, four-game losing streak. They have split the first two of a four-game series against Miami (39-35).
Contreras, who had three RBIs, got both of those hits by going to the opposite field in right. In the seventh, working against reliever Mike Dunn (0-1), Chicago's Kris Bryant walked, advanced to second on a hit-by-pitch and scored on Contreras' one-out single.
Both starters -- Miami's Tom Koehler and Chicago's Kyle Hendricks -- got no-decisions.
Chicago's Kyle Hendricks went five innings and allowed just one hit. But that one hit was a grand slam by Justin Bour, whose shot was preceded by two walks and an error.
Hector Rondon pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn his 13th save of the season and his first since June 18. Reliever Trevor Cahill (1-2) got the win.
Chicago and Miami each scored four runs in the first inning, the first time in the majors this season that two teams had scored at least that many in the opening frame.
The Cubs' outburst started with Kris Bryant's one-out solo homer to left. Bryant pulled an inside fastball for his 18th homer of the season.
After a single by Ben Zobrist, rookie Wilson Contreras hit an outside pitch to right for a two-run, opposite-field home run. It was his third homer in just his seventh big-league game.
But the Cubs were not done there, getting their fourth run when Chris Coghlan pulled a triple down the right-field line, scoring on a Javier Baez single past a draw-in infield.
Miami got all four runs back on one swing -- Bour's grand slam to center field. It was Bour's 13th homer of the season and his second career grand slam.
All four of Miami's runs were unearned because the rally started with a fielding error by shortstop Addison Russell. Hendricks compounded his problem by issuing two consecutive two-out walks to load the bases for Bour.
NOTES: Chicago again kept 1B Anthony Rizzo (back) and C Miguel Montero (knee) out of their starting lineup, but manager Joe Maddon said they're closer to returning. ... Miami CF Marcell Ozuna entered Friday leading National League outfielders in OPS. ... Miami, hoping for a postseason run, might skip RHP Jose Fernandez a second time this year, which could allow him to pitch potential playoff games. The Marlins don't want to exceed 180 innings this year on Fernandez, who is in his first full season after elbow surgery. His next start is Sunday against Chicago. ... After going 23-0 in starts by RHP Jake Arrieta, Chicago is 2-3 in his past five. Arrieta faces the Cincinnati Reds on Monday. ... Cubs RHP Joe Nathan, 41, reported to Double-A Tennessee to begin his rehab assignment. The six-time All-Star, who signed last month, has impressed Chicago with his recovery from a second elbow surgery.