Watch CBS News

Contreras Homer, 3 RBIs Help Cubs Beat Marlins 7-2

MIAMI (AP) — Yu Darvish thawed out and then nearly overheated in balmy South Florida, but he found enough in reserve to throw his hardest to the final batter he faced.

Chicago Cubs v Miami Marlins
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 15: Willson Contreras #40 of the Chicago Cubs is congratulated by David Bote #13 after hitting a home run during the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on April 15, 2019 in Miami, Florida. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

Darvish struck out eight in a season-high 5 2/3 innings for his first win of the year, and the Chicago Cubs adjusted to a big change in the weather to beat the Miami Marlins 7-2 Monday.

The temperature in Chicago was 33 when the Cubs' game Sunday against the Angels was snowed out, and it was 84 with the retractable roof open for the first pitch at Marlins Park.

"The first inning was toughest for me," said Darvish (1-2). "After the first inning I was so tired. But I got better after that."

His final three pitches of the night were his fastest — 98, 99 and 99 mph to Lewis Brinson.

"I was trying to throw as hard as I could," Darvish said. "I should do that next time. Seriously, I'm thinking too much about throwing strikes."

Willson Contreras hit his sixth homer , drove in three and reached base four times for the Cubs, who showed they could take the heat.

"We were in short sleeves," manager Joe Maddon said. "I didn't have a thermal top with my hoodie, followed by my jacket, followed by hand warmers in the pockets, followed by gloves and a beanie. It was not necessary, and that was good. It was awesome."

Darvish (1-2) allowed two runs, lowering his ERA to 6.11, and earned just his second victory since signing a $126 million, six-year contract with the Cubs before the 2018 season. He made it through only eight starts last year before being shut down with right triceps tendinitis.

"I loved the emotion he displayed tonight," Maddon said. "He was upset with himself a couple of times, and there was a sincere visceral reaction.

"He really wanted to pitch well, and he did that. Good for him. He keeps getting better."

Three relievers completed the six-hitter.

Contreras walked to force in a run in the first, homered in the seventh and added an RBI single in the ninth. David Bote also drove in three.

Chicago scored three times in the first, and Javier Baez drove in a run with a two-out bloop double in the fifth off Trevor Richards (0-2), who allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings.

The Marlins (4-13) have totaled five runs in their past six losses. The top four batters in their lineup finished the night with averages of .152, .213, .221 and .231.

Miami went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.

"We did a decent job of at least making Darvish work, getting some traffic," manager Don Mattingly said. "We just weren't able to come up with the big hit."

© 2019 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.