Szczur scores on wild pitch as Cubs rally past Marlins
CHICAGO -- Matt Szczur scored on a wild pitch to cap a three-run ninth inning as the Chicago Cubs rallied to a 5-4 walk-off victory over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday.
Chicago (66-41) trailed 4-2 entering the ninth but A.J. Ramos gave up a leadoff double to Miguel Montero, a single to Javier Baez and walked Szczur on five pitches to load the bases.
Dexter Fowler sacrificed to right-center to score Montero. Ben Zobrist walked to bring home Baez and Ramos' two-out wild pitch sailed past Miami catcher Jeff Mathis and allowed Szczur to score the game-winner.
Ramos (1-1) took the loss while reliever Justin Grimm (1-0), who was brought up from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, worked the ninth for the victory.
The Marlins (57-51) appeared on track for a victory after Mathis clubbed a go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh while starter Tom Koehler allowed just one run on five hits.
But Koehler, who worked an effective six innings in 88-degree heat, was left with a no-decision.
Neither did Cubs starter John Lackey, who pitched seven innings and settled for his seventh no-decison of the season. He allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out eight while taking a loss in three of his last four games.
Lackey also contributed at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two doubles but failed to score each time.
Christian Yelich went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs while Dee Gordon was 3-for-5 with a run to lead Miami.
The Marlins opened scoring in the first as Yelich doubled to center to deliver leadoff batter Dee Gordon. Gordon reached on an infield single and stole second prior to Yelich's at-bat.
The Cubs were silent until the sixth when Willson Contreras singled up the middle to drive in Anthony Rizzo from second for a 1-1 tie. Contreras stole second to place a potential go-ahead run in scoring position but Jason Heyward lined to first to end the threat.
The Marlins reclaimed the lead in the seventh with Mathis' one-out, two-run homer off Lackey for a 3-1 lead. Mathis' second homer of the year also scored Derek Dietrich.
Koehler departed after six innings and one run on five hits. He walked one and struck out seven.
Yelich made it 4-1 in the eighth inning, greeting new Cubs reliever Joe Smith with a one-out solo home run to right. It was Yelich's 11th homer of the year.
Chicago chipped away in the eighth against Marlins reliever Fernando Rodney.
Fowler scored from third on a ball-four wild pitch that sent Rizzo to first and cut the deficit to 4-2 with none out.
Zobrist's sacrifice moved runners to second and third. But Rodney escaped more damage as he struck out Contreras while Heyward grounded to short to end the inning.
Ichiro Suzuki entered as a seventh inning pinch hitter but sent a soft liner to Cubs shortstop Baez. Suzuki, two hits away from 3,000 for his career, ended the series 0-for-3 in three pinch-hit appearances.
NOTES: Cubs fans plus a large contingent of Japanese media were disappointed that Suzuki missed a chance to collect two hits and reach 3,000 for his career while in Chicago. He was not in the starting lineup in any of the three games at Wrigley Field. ... RHP David Phelps (5-5, 2.65 ERA) switches from bullpen to starter as he opens Miami's weekend series at Colorado on Friday. He'll face Rockies LHP Jorge De LaRosa (7-7. 5.51). ... RHP Jose Fernandez had eight strikeouts in Tuesday's loss and has now fanned a big league-leading and career-high 192 batters this season. ... The Cubs placed RHP Jason Hammel on the bereavement list Wednesday and recalled RHP Justin Grimm from Triple-A Iowa. Grimm had no record and a 4.72 ERA in 45 relief appearances with Chicago. Hammel is 11-5 with a 3.07 ERA. The winning pitcher in Tuesday's 3-2 triumph over the Marlins, Hammel is only the fourth Cubs pitcher to emerge victorious in his first four post-All Star starts with an ERA of 1.50. ... Chicago has Thursday off before opening a three-game weekend series in Oakland. LHP Jon Lester (11-4, 2.95 ERA) meets A's LHP Dillon Overton (1-2, 9.33 ERA) in Friday's opener.