The Chicago Cubs will try to snap a two-series losing streak when they host the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.
The Cubs, who hold a one-game lead over the red-hot St. Louis Cardinals in the National League’s Central Division, won the opener of the three-game set with Miami on Monday, 5-2. They entered the game off series losses to the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets.
Dansby Swanson and Seiya Suzuki both hit two-run homers to highlight a five-run fifth inning for Chicago, which also got a strong game from starter Colin Rea. Rea allowed two runs on six hits over 6 2/3 innings en route to his third win of the season.
Swanson, who batted just .181 with four homers in the first 29 games of the season, moved into a tie with Francisco Lindor of the Mets for most home runs by a shortstop in the majors with his ninth. He also singled, and is batting .422 with five home runs over the past 13 games.
“The at-bats were all really good tonight,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s seeing it well. He’s swinging at the right pitches. He’s hitting mistakes really hard. Just got to keep it going.”
Swanson credited the coaching staff.
“I just give so much credit to the work that I’ve been putting in (with hitting coaches),” Swanson said. “Their ability to keep me in a good place and continue to just challenge me in my everyday work has really been the key to all this. I’m very appreciative.”
The win gave the Cubs a 7-0 record in series openers at Wrigley Field this season.
“Winning the first game in any series is huge,” Swanson said. “That’s been something that’s been key for us, especially at home. We obviously love playing here.”
Right-hander Ben Brown (3-3, 4.95 ERA), who has yet to win a game at Wrigley Field in his young career, gets the start for Chicago on Tuesday and will be opposed by right-hander Valente Bellozo (0-2, 3.50).
Brown is 0-2 with a 8.10 ERA in four starts at Wrigley this season. He comes in off a 3-1 loss to the visiting Giants on Wednesday when he was outdueled by Robbie Ray, allowing three runs on six hits over five innings while striking out a season-high nine batters.
Bellozo is still searching for his first win in what will be his fifth start this season. He comes in off a brilliant one-hit outing against the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.
Bellozo allowed only a first-inning single to Freddie Freeman over 5 1/3 innings of an eventual 10-1 loss. He held the Dodgers scoreless, walked two and struck out seven.
“Every pitch was really good,” Bellozo said. “Velo was good, and I think that was a great day for me to prove versus really, I think, the best lineup in Major League Baseball right now.”
Bellozo, making his Wrigley Field debut, is 0-1 with a 9.64 in one career start against the Cubs.
One bright spot for the Marlins in Monday’s loss was the return of center fielder Derek Hill from the injured list. Hill hit a 399-foot two-run homer into the left field bleachers off Rea in the seventh inning. Hill had been sidelined since April 17 with a sprained wrist.
“Good to see Derek put a good swing on that ball and [breathe] some life into us there late in the game,” Miami manager Clayton McCullough said. “The break, and the time off, was good and hopefully got that thing healed up.”
–Field Level Media
