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Lee's slam propels Marlins past Cubs

Jul 18, 2012 - 5:50 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Carlos Lee hit a grand slam, Anibal Sanchez went seven innings, and the Marlins downed the Cubs, 9-5, in the opener of a three-game series.

It was Lee's 17th career grand slam and his first home run since joining Miami via trade with the Astros on July 4.

"Not really," Lee remarked when asked if he could explain his 17 career slams. "If you go out there and try to hit home runs, I think that you're going to fail 90 percent of the time or more."

Omar Infante added a two-run homer and drove in three, while Hanley Ramirez had a solo shot and a double for the Marlins, who were coming off of a four- game split with the NL East-leading Nationals.

Sanchez (5-6) was charged with two runs -- one earned -- on nine hits. He walked two and struck out seven.

Miami has won six straight games against the Cubs, who entered Tuesday sporting a season high-tying four-game win streak.

Travis Wood (4-4) had been victorious in his previous four decisions, but lasted just 4 2/3 frames, allowing eight runs on eight hits, including two homers.

"He just didn't come out with much command," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "He couldn't keep the ball down, everything was up."

Jeff Baker hit a solo homer in the loss and Luis Valbuena added an eighth- inning, two-run double.

The Cubs had won six straight at Wrigley Field -- their longest stretch at home since 2009 -- but they were simply outslugged by Miami on Tuesday.

In addition to his grand slam, Lee scored the game's first run, leading off the fourth with a single and crossing the plate on Austin Kearns' two-out base hit to center.

Infante capped the frame with a two-run shot to left and Lee struck the decisive blow an inning later.

Singles by Sanchez, Jose Reyes and Emilio Bonifacio preceded the former Astro's bases-clearing blast down the left-field line. His 17 career grand slams rank second among active major league players behind the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez (23).

Wood, who hadn't lost since June 14, failed to make it out of the inning. Before departing, he allowed a double to Ramirez. Infante then greeted Rafael Dolis with an RBI single.

Baker belted his fourth homer of the season in the bottom half and added an RBI single in the eighth.

A sixth-inning error by Ramirez allowed Geovany Soto to score, but the Miami third baseman atoned with a solo shot in the seventh.

Game Notes

The Marlins swept the Cubs in the teams' only other meeting this season (April 17-19)...Chicago's six-game win streak at Wrigley Field was its longest since a six-game stretch from June 18-July 3, 2009.