De La Cruz homers in 9th inning as Marlins beat Cubs 3-2 in doubleheader opener
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 20: Patrick Wisdom #16 of the Chicago Cubs hits a two-RBI triple during the third inning of game one of a doubleheader against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field on April 20, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuz (Getty Images )
CHICAGO (AP) - Bryan De La Cruz hit a two-run homer off Adbert Alzolay in the ninth inning, and the Miami Marlins beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 on Saturday in the opener of a split doubleheader.
Luis Arraez collected three more hits for Miami, which had dropped four of five. Jesús Sánchez and Nick Gordon each had two hits.
Arraez is batting .347 (17 for 49) in his last 12 games. He singled with one out in the ninth, and De La Cruz followed with a drive to left-center for his fifth homer after he also went deep in each of his previous two games.
It was the fourth blown save in seven chances for Alzolay (1-2).
Mike Tauchman and Nick Madrigal began the bottom of the ninth with singles off Tanner Scott. The runners advanced on a sacrifice before Alexander Canario struck out and Nico Hoerner grounded out.
Calvin Faucher (1-0) struck out four in two scoreless innings, and Scott earned his third save.
Patrick Wisdom hit a two-run triple and Hoerner had two hits for the Cubs, who had won five of six.
The doubleheader was scheduled after rain postponed Thursday's series opener.
Wisdom gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead with his hit off the wall in right-center in the third against Jesús Luzardo. Wisdom was activated from the injured list Thursday after missing the beginning of the season because of a back strain.
De La Cruz hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth, chasing Javier Assad. Luke Little, who was added as the Cubs' 27th man for the doubleheader, struck out Jazz Chisholm Jr. with two on, ending the inning.
Alzolay walked Emmanuel Rivera in the eighth but got Vidal Bruján to fly out to end the threat.
Assad allowed three hits in 4 2/3 innings. The right-hander retired 11 straight batters after giving up a double and walk to begin the game. In his previous three starts, Assad yielded four runs in 16 2/3 innings.
Luzardo struck out six in six innings for Miami.
Tim Anderson , a two-time All-Star during eight seasons with the White Sox, went 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: LHP A.J. Puk (left shoulder fatigue) was placed on the 15-day injured list, and RHP Kyle Tyler was brought up from Triple-A Jacksonville. LHP Josh Simpson was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Cubs: OF Ian Happ (left hamstring tightness) was out of the lineup after he left after six innings on Friday. Manager Craig Counsell said Happ could possibly play Saturday's second game.
UP NEXT
RHP Roddery Muñoz is scheduled to make his big league debut for the Marlins in the second game of the doubleheader. LHP Shota Imanaga (2-0, 0.00) takes the mound for the Cubs.