Pete Crow-Armstrong hits an inside-the-park homer to lead the Cubs to a 6-3 victory over the Marlins Originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
MIAMI (AP) — Pete Crow-Armstrong hit an inside-the-park home run and the Chicago Cubs beat the Miami Marlins 6-3 on Friday night.
Ian Happ and Miguel Amaya also homered for the Cubs (64-65), who began a nine-game road trip.
Crow-Armstrong’s 14.08 seconds from home to home are the fastest in the majors since Byron Buxton’s 13.85 on Aug. 18, 2017 as a member of the Minnesota Twins.
Isaac Paredes’ RBI double off Marlins reliever Brett de Geus (0-2) in the eighth broke a 3-3 tie. Amaya then hit a two-run homer off Kent Emanuel in the ninth.
Porter Hodge (2-1) worked 1 1/3 innings of relief for the win before Jorge Lopez pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
The Marlins fell to a National League-worst 46-82 record and will finish with their 24th losing season in the franchise’s 32-year history.
Miami chased Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks after Kyle Stowers walked with the bases loaded to tie it 3-3 in the fifth.
Happ’s two-run homer capped a three-run third inning that put the Cubs ahead 3-1. He hit a slider off Marlins starter Max Meyer for his 23rd homer.
In the top of the third inning, Crow-Armstrong tied the game with his run down the bases. His shot to the warning track got past right fielder Jesus Sanchez and bounced into right-center field, where center fielder Derek Hill recovered it and threw to second baseman Otto Lopez. Crow-Armstrong beat Lopez’s relay throw with a headfirst slide at the plate.
Jonah Bride’s RBI single in the third cut the deficit to 3-2 for Miami.
Meyer completed six innings, allowing three runs and six hits. The right-hander walked two and struck out two.
Hendricks allowed three runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Miami shortstop Xavier Edwards left the game after the second inning due to lower back discomfort. Edwards singled in his at-bat to lead off the first and stole second. He then took over in the second inning, but was replaced by Vidal Brujan when it was his turn again in the third.
MOVEMENTS IN THE SQUAD
Prior to the game, the Cubs recalled infielder Luis Vazquez from Triple-A Iowa and designated infielder David Bote for assignment. They also acquired right-hander Gavin Hollowell off waivers from Arizona and optioned him to Iowa.
TRAINERS ROOM
Cubs: Left-hander Jordan Wicks (oblique) threw a bullpen session on Friday.
Marlins: Left-hander Braxton Garrett (left forearm flexor strain) and left-hander Ryan Weathers (left index finger strain) each made their second bullpen sessions Friday. Left-hander Josh Simpson (left elbow ulnar neuritis) will make his second rehab start with Triple-A Jacksonville on Saturday.
NEXT
LHP Shota Imanaga (9-3, 3.11) will start for the Cubs in Game 2 of the series on Saturday, while RHP Valente Bellozo (2-1, 2.45) will start for the Marlins.