Fernandez helps Marlins beat Cubs
MIAMI -- Jose Fernandez struck out 13 and continued his dominance at home as the Miami Marlins defeated the slumping Chicago Cubs 6-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Miami (41-35) took three out of four in the series against Chicago (48-25), and the Cubs have lost six of their past seven games overall. The Marlins, meanwhile, are six games over .500 of the first time since June of 2012.
Fernandez is 24-1 with a 1.48 ERA in his career at Marlins Park. Fernandez, who is 10-3 overall this season with a 2.28 ERA, held the Cubs to four hits -- all singles -- three walks and one run in seven innings. He threw 108 pitches.
It was the sixth time this season that Fernandez has had 10 or more strikeouts, breaking a franchise record. His 13 strikeouts were also one short of his career high.
Fernandez was even strong at the plate, hitting a double in the fifth and pointing to his right biceps after reaching second base.
Cubs starter Jason Hammel (7-4) took the loss, allowing four hits, two walks and two runs in six innings.
Miami opened the scoring by getting a second-inning run. Justin Bour, a less-than-average runner, walked and scored from first on a one-out double by Derek Dietrich, who golfed a low fastball to right-center. Dietrich's double hit the wall on one hop.
Chicago tied the score 1-1 in the third inning. Hammel, a good-hitting pitcher, dropped a soft single to right to raise his batting average to .273. That started a one-out rally that included a walk by Ben Zobrist and a single by Jason Heyward.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Fernandez fell behind 2-0 in the count to Kris Bryant, who then hit a sacrifice fly to deep center. Fernandez escaped further damage by striking out Anthony Rizzo.
Miami went up 2-1 in the sixth, but it took a video replay to make it happen.
Giancarlo Stanton doubled to center past a diving Heyward to start the rally. With Stanton on third and Dietrich on first with one out, Adeiny Hechavarria hit a grounder to Bryant at third base.
Bryant, though, had to double-clutch to allow second baseman Zobrist to get to second for the force. And Zobrist's relay to first was not in time for the double play, although Hechavarria was originally called out on the field.
Miami extended its lead to 3-1 in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Miguel Rojas singled and came around to score on a single by Christian Yelich.
The Marlins made it 6-1 in the sixth on a three-run double by Martin Prado.
Marlins center fielder Ichiro Suzuki went 0-for-4 and has 2,984 career hits. He is one behind Sam Rice for 30th place on the major-league career list.
NOTES: Marlins CF Marcell Ozuna (sore left wrist) sat for the second straight game but will likely play in Miami's next game, Tuesday at the Detroit Tigers. ... By winning game No. 40 on Saturday, the Marlins are about a month ahead of when they won that many last year (July 22). ... Cubs 2B Ben Zobrist (foot) returned after a one-game absence. ... The Cubs lead the NL in runs per game (5.26) and lead the majors in best ERA (2.48) among starters. ... Marlins RHP Nefi Ogando was reinstated from the disabled list and optioned to Triple-A New Orleans. ... Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (11-2, 1.75 ERA) starts Monday at the Cincinnati Reds. But the Cubs are just 2-3 in his past five starts after going 23-0 with him on the mound.