Samardzija Roughed Up, Marlins Sweep Cubs With 5-3 Win
MIAMI (AP) -- Greg Dobbs hit a two-run double and the Miami Marlins' strong bullpen finished off a three-game sweep of the Cubs with a 5-3 win Thursday that sent Chicago to its fifth straight loss.
Ricky Nolasco (2-0) went 5 1-3 innings for the victory. Five relievers combined to throw 3 2-3 perfect innings and Heath Bell recorded his second save in four chances.
An announced attendance of 23,168 saw the Marlins complete their first home series sweep against the Cubs since September 2007 and improve to 5-2 in their new ballpark.
Hanley Ramirez and Logan Morrison each had two hits and Emilio Bonifacio stole two bases for the Marlins, who have won five of six.
Jeff Samardzija (2-1) was tagged for five runs and eight hits in 3 2-3 innings.
Miami jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. A walk and steal by Bonifacio and a single by Ramirez set up Morrison's RBI single, and another run scored on a groundout by Giancarlo Stanton.
Chicago responded in the second with a bases-loaded triple by Darwin Barney down the right-field line.
Dobbs' two-run double in the third off Samardzija gave the Marlins a 4-3 lead. After a two-out intentional walk, Nolasco helped himself with an RBI single.
Nolasco was shaky early on as the Cubs left six on base through the first three innings. He settled down before being lifted in the sixth for Mike Dunn following an error by shortstop Jose Reyes.
NOTES: Ramirez is hitting .550 (11 for 20) with three home runs and nine RBIs in his last five games. ... Marlins 2B Omar Infante (groin) remained sidelined for the second straight game and remains day-to-day. ... Because of a computer problem in a ticket office near third base, Marlins were unable to process any sales for about 15 minutes, so 150 fans were admitted free. ... Miami will travel to Washington for a three-game weekend series and will send RHP Carlos Zambrano (0-0, 3.75 ERA) to the mound to face LHP Ross Detwiler (1-0, 0.90). Zambrano is 8-3 with a 3.35 ERA in his career against the Nationals. ... RHP Chris Volstad (0-1, 4.91) will take the mound Friday for the Cubs in a three-game series against the Reds, who will counter with RHP Homer Bailey (0-2, 5.40). Volstad is looking to snap a 13-game winless start streak dating to last July 17.
