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Marquis pitches Cubs past Diamondbacks

Jul 20, 2007 - 10:34 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- It was more of the same from the red-hot Chicago Cubs on Friday.

Jason Marquis pitched 7 2/3 strong innings and Jacque Jones had a pair of RBI singles as the Cubs defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, 6-2, in the opener of a three-game series.

Aramis Ramirez added a three-run home run in the eighth and drove in four for the Cubs, who have won three straight and 19 of their last 24 games.

"Every time we need something, we get it from somebody," Ramirez said. "Today it was Marquis pitching a great game, and Jacque driving in two big runs. That is how it has been going."

The Cubs' good fortune appears to be contagious, as Marquis (7-5) won for just the second time in his last 13 starts and turned in one of his best efforts of the year.

The righthander allowed two runs, four hits and one walk while striking out three in his longest outing since throwing a complete game against Pittsburgh on May 9.

"What I really liked from Jason was his curveball," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "He was throwing it for first-pitch strikes."

In his previous two starts, Marquis had allowed 12 earned runs and 16 hits in a span of 8 2/3 innings. The 28-year-old made his only mistake in the fifth when he allowed a two-run homer to Chris Young.

"I was able to mix in my offspeed pitches for strikes," Marquis said. "That way they could not key on the fastball. Teams have been sitting on my fastball the last few games."

Improving to 29-13 since June 3, the Cubs benefited from some clutch hitting.

Trailing, 2-1, in the sixth, the team strung together three consecutive two-out hits off starter Brandon Webb (8-8) to take the lead for good.

"That's what is happening to us right now," Webb said. "Other teams are getting the two-out hits, and we are not."

Mike Fontenot ignited the rally with a single to center and then stole second base, his second steal of the game.

Ramirez plated Fontenot with a soft, looping single to right field and moved up to second base on a fielding error by right fielder Jeff DaVanon. Jones brought home the go-ahead RBI by dropping a single into shallow left-center.

"It's team baseball," Jones said. "It's not the best players that win, it's the best teams."

It was a hard-luck loss for Webb, who allowed three runs - two earned - and five hits in seven innings. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner also walked one and struck out four.

"Brandon really pitched well, he probably only gave up two hard-hit balls," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "Unfortunately for Brandon, the two hard-hit balls were with men in scoring position."

Ramirez gave the Cubs more than enough insurance in the eighth with a three-run blast over the wall in left field.

"I hit it pretty good," Ramirez said. "I didn't know if it would get out with the wind blowing in."

Ramirez's 16th home run of the season was the first home run allowed this season by Brandon Lyon, who was making his 45th relief appearance for the Diamondbacks.

Arizona has lost five of six overall and nine of its last 10 road games.

"Were staying together as a team," Webb said. "Sooner or later this will turn around, hopefully sooner rather than later."