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Marlins wrap up set with Cubs at Wrigley Field

Jul 17, 2011 - 3:13 PM (Sports Network) - Chris Volstad tries for his first career win against the Cubs today when the Marlins conclude a four-game series at Wrigley Field.

Volstad is making his seventh career start versus the Cubs, a team he's struggled against with an 0-2 record and 3.68 ERA. He faced Chicago earlier this year on May 19, taking his second consecutive loss to the Cubs.

The right-hander has pitched well in three of his last four starts, fashioning a 3-1 record in that time. Most recently, Volstad delivered six solid innings in a victory over the Astros one week ago.

Countering for the Cubs will be Randy Wells, who has struggled with the long ball, surrendering a home run in seven of his nine starts. He gave up two of them in his most recent outing, July 6 at Washington. Wells hasn't won since his first start of the season, April 4 against Arizona. Since then, the righty has gone 0-3 in eight starts, and he's given up an astounding 28 hits and 16 earned runs over his last three games, a span of 16 1/3 innings.

Wells faced the Marlins once, yielding three runs over eight innings in a loss.

Yesterday, Mike Stanton homered twice and knocked in four runs as the Marlins hammered the Cubs, 13-3. Hanley Ramirez went 3-for-4 with three doubles, two RBI and three runs scored as Florida won for the seventh time in eight games.

Javier Vazquez (6-8) threw seven strong innings, allowing three runs on four hits with no walks while striking out a season-high 10 batters to pick up the win.

Carlos Zambrano (6-5) was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game and lasted just 4 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out six.

"His velocity was probably as good as I've seen it early on. Maybe it was too good. He was throwing hard and he probably didn't have the life and location that he's had when he was on his nice run," Cubs manager Mike Quade said about Zambrano.

Aramis Ramirez's three-run home run accounted for all of Chicago's runs as the team lost for the third time in the past four games.

Florida's Emilio Bonifacio enters today's action with a career-best 15-game hitting streak, currently the longest in the majors.

Chicago leads the season series, 3-2.