The Chicago Cubs won Thursday’s series finale 4-2 to give them a series victory over the Miami Marlins. For the Marlins, the series loss comes at a time when the organization is debating whether to be sellers at the upcoming trade deadline. The Cubs who are not in playoff contention were seen as a foe that Miami could take at least two of three from. As it stands now, Miami is four games under .500 and ten games out of first place in the National League East.
Mark Buehrle’s one bad inning was the fifth but it was bad enough to tag him with his ninth loss of the year. All four runs that the lefty allowed on the day came in that fifth frame. Buehrle was trying to win his tenth game which would’ve given him twelve straight seasons with ten or more wins. That feat will now have to wait for another day. The veteran went five innings before being lifted for a pinch hitter despite only throwing 71 pitches on the day. Wade LeBlanc, Edward Mujica and Steve Cishek combined for three scoreless innings of relief.
Miami only managed six hits and they were all singles except for a triple courtesy of Donovan Solano. It was the first triple of Solano’s Major League career and it came as a pinch hitter. Justin Ruggiano remained hot with another two hit day as he continues to fill a platoon role with Greg Dobbs in the outfield. The Marlins who lead the league in stolen bases attempted two more in this game but were caught both times. The baserunners were Jose Reyes and Justin Ruggiano — the fifth time each player was caught stealing this season.
The Marlins will open a series with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. The scheduled starters are Ricky Nolasco and Kevin Correia.
About Larry Walansky
