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Marlins take aim at seventh straight win at Wrigley

Jul 15, 2011 - 3:15 PM (Sports Network) - The Marlins didn't let the All-Star break cool off their red-hot play. Some welcomed wildness from Cubs closer Carlos Marmol made sure of that.

Florida hopes to extend its season-best winning streak to seven straight games this afternoon behind Ricky Nolasco as the club continues a four-game set with Chicago at Wrigley Field.

After a 5-23 record in June dropped the Marlins into last place in the National League East, the club has responded in July by winning eight of 11 games in the month. That includes five straight victories before the All-Star break and then a patient 6-3 rally in last night's opener.

Florida's offense was shut down for most of the night, with Chicago starter Matt Garza hurling seven scoreless innings to help the Cubs take a 2-0 lead into the ninth. However, Marmol had control problems from the start in trying to close the game out, walking the first three batters he faced while throwing just one of his first 13 pitches for a strike.

Greg Dobbs then ripped a pinch-hit double to right field that plated a pair of runs. Dewayne Wise also scored the go-ahead run on Dobbs' hit after Darwin Barney's wild throw to home.

"As you see the inning develop, you could see it was evident he didn't have the command he usually does," Dobbs said of Marmol.

Hanley Ramirez added an RBI single in the ninth inning for the 999th hit of his career, while Emilio Bonifacio extended his career-high hitting streak to 13 straight games as the Marlins snapped a six-game losing streak to the Cubs.

Marlon Byrd had a solo home run and Geovany Soto went 4-for-4 for the Cubs, who opened a 10-game homestand by losing for the eighth time in 11 games.

Despite Marmol blowing his seventh save of the season, manager Mike Quade won't be making a switch at the back end of his bullpen.

"It hurts pretty bad," Quade said. "We have to find a way to win games in the late innings. Marmol's our guy and has been the guy and needs to be the guy. He'll be back for us though. Your sense is if he throws strikes he's going to be alright."

Florida improved to 12-8 under interim manager Jack McKeon, who has taken the kid gloves off his starters. Nolasco has responded to his veteran manager's challenge, throwing a pair of complete-game victories over his last three starts.

The right-hander hurled a five-hit shutout at Oakland on June 29, and following a tough-luck 1-0 loss to the Phillies five days later, limited the Astros to a run on seven hits with eight strikeouts on Saturday. Nolasco became just the second player in Marlins history to reach 60 victories (Dontrelle Willis had 68) with his sixth career complete game.

"[Throwing a complete game] should be the goal of every pitcher that goes out there," McKeon said. "I like to see those guys. That should be charging up the rest of the staff, to go nine."

Nolasco improved to 6-5 with a 3.70 earned run average in 19 starts this year, but did not factor into the decision of a May 18 outing versus the Cubs after allowing five runs -- four earned -- on nine hits over six innings of a 7-5 loss. The 28-year-old yielded a homer to Reed Johnson and is 3-1 with a 3.09 ERA in six career meetings with Chicago, including five starts.

Ryan Dempster will try to harness his emotions on the mound this afternoon after finishing the first half with a controversial victory over the Pirates on Saturday.

Dempster earned the win despite allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks over five innings. He was lifted by Quade following 87 pitches and got into an argument with his manager in the clubhouse after he was pinch-hit for.

Quade had no issues with Dempster getting heated, adding as a veteran, the right-hander has earned the right to disagree with his decision.

"He's interested in trying to win a game for the team, and that's the guy I want," Quade said. "I had a decision to make. He wants to keep pitching and I have to take into account what I saw, what I have available, where we're at, his physical condition and everything else."

The 34-year-old Dempster was coming off eight innings of one-run ball versus the Giants on June 29, but missed his next scheduled start due to back and stomach problems. He is 6-6 with a 5.01 ERA in 19 starts this season and that includes a no-decision at Florida on May 18.

Dempster yielded five runs over five innings on that day, giving up a solo homer to Ramirez as part of the damage. He is 3-1 with three saves and a 2.54 ERA in 15 career meetings with the Marlins, including five starts.