• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Marshall pitches Cubs over Mariners

Jun 14, 2007 - 4:14 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Mike Fontenot provided the offense and Sean Marshall took care of the rest as the Chicago Cubs topped the Seattle Mariners, 3-2, in interleague action on Wednesday.

Marshall (3-2) allowed two runs and seven hits and struck out one in eight innings to win his third consecutive start. After being recalled from Class AAA Iowa on May 22, the 6-7 lefthander has yielded just nine runs in 34 innings.

Ryan Dempster pitched a perfect ninth for his 14th save of the season.

"(Marshall) knows how to pitch," Dempster said. "When he first got here he parked his butt right next to number 31 (Greg Maddux) and learned as much as he could from him. He is really reaping the rewards from that right now."

Marshall said he was pleased with his command.

"I am proud of the fact that I didn't walk anybody," he said. "That's the key anytime you want to stay deep into a ballgame."

The Cubs broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning thanks to a timely hit by Fontenot. Derrek Lee singled off starter Miguel Batista (7-5) with one out and, after the second out was recorded, moved to second when Mark DeRosa walked. Ryan Theriot reached base on a throwing error by shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, setting the stage for Fontenot, who singled to right to give the Cubs a 3-1 lead.

"(Miguel) Batista was tough tonight," Fontenot said. "I was lucky to get the bat on a two-strike pitch and get it through the infield."

Batista allowed three runs - one earned - and nine hits in seven innings. The 36-year-old walked five and struck out three.

"They outplayed us but only hit three balls to the outfield, all the rest were ground balls," Batista said. "I just didn't execute my game plan and it cost us some runs."

Richie Sexson hit his 10th home run of the season for the Mariners, who had a season-high five-game win streak come to an end.

"The way we have been playing you always expect something good to happen in the ninth," Mariners manager Mike Hargrove said. "We will just try and take the series now."