Contreras Helps Cubs End 4-Game Skid, Beat Marlins 5-4

MIAMI (AP) — Rookie Willson Contreras homered and drove in three runs to help the Chicago Cubs break their longest losing streak of the season at four games by beating the Miami Marlins, 5-4, Friday night.

Contreras hit a two-run homer in the Cubs' four-run first inning. His RBI single in the seventh put the team with the best record in the majors ahead to stay. He's batting .412 with three homers and eight RBIs after seven games in the big leagues.

While Contreras again excelled as a reinforcement for the injury-hampered NL Central leaders, they endured another setback when second baseman Ben Zobrist left the game after he was hit by a pitch on the left ankle.

Four pitchers held the Marlins to two hits, including Justin Bour's grand slam.

Each team scored four runs in the first inning, when Kris Bryant and Contreras homered for the Cubs. It was the first time in the majors this year that both teams scored at least four runs in the first, according to ESPN.

Despite the early onslaught, both starters settled down before departing with the score still 4-all.

The Cubs' Kyle Hendricks pitched five innings and allowed only one hit — Bour's slam. All four runs were unearned because of an error by shortstop Addison Russell.

Miami's Tom Koehler gave up six consecutive hits in the first but still pitched six innings.

Trevor Cahill (1-2) threw a scoreless sixth to help the Cubs break their longest losing streak of the season. Hector Rondon retired all four batters he faced for his second four-out save in a row, and his 13th overall.

Mike Dunn (0-1) retired only one of the five hitters he faced in the seventh.

The Cubs' outburst in the first included Bryant's 18th homer and Contreras' drive. They nearly had hits by their first seven batters, but Jason Heyward was robbed by center fielder Marcell Ozuna to start the game.

The Marlins tied the game in their half of the first, with all four runs unearned because Russell mishandled a grounder to start the inning. Hendricks gave up a pair of two-out walks, and Bour hit a breaking pitch into the center field shrubs for his 13th homer.

TRAINER'S ROOM

The Cubs endured another loss after Zobrist was hit by a pitch from Dunn on one bounce. Zobrist took his base and stayed in the game until the end of the inning, but was then replaced in the field. ... Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo (stiff back) and C Miguel Montero (right knee) were held out of the starting lineup for the second game in a row but were both feeling better, manager Joe Maddon said. Contreras started for Montero, who was available off the bench and is expected to start Saturday.

WHERE WAS BARTMAN?

Chicago 3B Javier Baez dove into the stands to catch J.T. Realmuto's pop foul in the fourth.

UP NEXT

Cubs RHP John Lackey (7-3, 2.78) is scheduled to start Saturday against RHP Paul Clemens (0-1, 5.40), who will make his second start since being recalled from Triple-A. Lackey has faced the Marlins twice — in 2005 and 2015.

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