Speedy Pete Crow-Armstrong hit an inside-the-park homer — which culminated in a spectacular dive to the plate from several feet away — as the Chicago Cubs defeated the host Miami Marlins 6-3 on Friday night.
Chicago’s Isaac Paredes also had a key hit, smashing a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning.
The game’s most exciting play occurred when Crow-Armstrong led off the third inning with a line drive to right field.
Miami’s Jesus Sanchez couldn’t get to the ball until after it one-hopped the wall and skipped away. Crow-Armstrong was timed at 14.1 seconds around the bases — the fastest time in the majors this season.
Chicago’s Ian Happ and Miguel Amaya added conventional homers, two-run shots for each. Happ leads the Cubs with 23 long balls this season. Amaya, who has seven homers this year, finished the night 2-for-4, making him 5-for-9 with two home runs and seven RBIs over the past two games.
Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards left after two innings due to lower back discomfort.
Neither starting pitcher earned a decision as both Miami’s Max Meyer (six innings) and Chicago’s Kyle Hendricks (4 2/3 frames) allowed three runs.
Chicago’s Porter Hodge (2-1) tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and Jorge Lopez fired a 1-2-3 ninth for his fourth save. Brett de Geus (0-2) took the loss.
Paredes gave Chicago a 4-3 lead with an RBI double in the eighth. The hit knocked in Seiya Suzuki, who started the rally with a single, went to second on an errant pickup throw and took third on a groundout.
Amaya’s homer in the ninth padded the lead.
Miami opened the scoring in the second inning as rookie Connor Norby stroked a leadoff double, moved to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on Derek Hill’s groundout.
Chicago took a 3-1 lead in the third. After Crow-Armstrong hit his inside-the-park dinger, Amaya singled, and Happ followed with his two-run shot.
It was the first time since 2001 that Chicago had inside-the-park and over-the-fence homers in the same inning.
Miami cut its deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the third as Vidal Brujan singled with one out, advanced on Sanchez’s walk and scored on Jonah Bride’s single.
The Marlins tied the score 3-3 in the fifth as rookie Kyle Stowers drew a two-out, bases-loaded, full-count walk, winning a seven-pitch battle against reliever Tyson Miller. Hill then lined a potential two- or three-run ball up the middle, but Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner jumped high to make a sensational catch.
–Field Level Media
The Boston Red Sox will look for their first win of the Roman Anthony era when they continue a three-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night….
Philadelphia Phillies rookie Mick Abel has made quite an impression in a short amount of time. Abel gets the ball again Tuesday when the Phillies continue their three-game home series…
The Cleveland Guardians are two weeks into a slump that shows no signs of ending, dropping nine of their past 14 games. The face of their franchise, however, is red…
Phils’ Mick Abel looks to continue impressive career start vs. Cubs
Jose Ramirez, skidding Guardians take another crack at Reds
MLB roundup: Chris Sale whiffs 11 Brewers; Braves end skid
D-backs blow big lead in 9th, walk off Mariners with grand slam in 11th