Cubs defeat Marlins for fourth straight win |
CHICAGO -- Wrigley Field's wind was blowing in but that didn't stop the Cubs hitters as they smacked two homers to power the Cubs to a 3-1 win over the Marlins on Monday night. The Cubs have are a perfect 4-0 on their current ten game homestand after losing six straight previously on the West Coast.
Kris Bryant started the offensive showing with a two-run homer to left field off of righty Dan Straily in the first inning to put the Cubs up 2-0. It was his thirteenth homer of the season and it traveled 412 feet despite the 16 MPH wind. In the fourth inning, Cubs young outfielder Albert Almora Jr connected with a powerful 418-foot solo home run to push the Cubs lead to 3-0. It was his third homer of the season tieing his entire output of homers last season (3). Newcomer Eddie Butler was impressive on the mound tonight going 5.2 innings, giving up only three hits, a run, and four strikeouts to earn his second win of the season. His season ERA is now down to 3.75 on the season as he retired 16 of the total 20 batters he faced during the game. Marlins' Dee Gordon had a rather meaningless sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to put his team on the board at 3-1. However, that was it on the scoreboard for the evening as the Cubs long reliever Mike Montgomery finished up the final 3.1 innings (10 outs) to get another save giving up only three hits to lower his season ERA to 2.21. Cubs manager has a nice combo going with Butler and Montgomery pitching in games together because they compliment each other and it keeps Butler from not being overused as a fifth starter. The Cubs will go for their fifth win in a row on Tuesday night against the Marlins at 7:05 CDT. Four straight. #W pic.twitter.com/EV5A6GQdzD
