Marlins 2 - 5 Cubs
Final
  for this game

Samardzija aims to bounce back against Marlins

Jun 7, 2014 - 2:30 PM (Sports Network) - Jeff Samardzija aims to bounce back from one of the worst starts of his career when the Chicago Cubs resume their three-game series against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field.

Samardzija posted his only victory of the season May 26 at San Francisco, but then was dealt a 9-0 defeat at Milwaukee on Sunday. The right-hander allowed eight hits and eight runs over three innings. It marked the first time he failed to work at least five innings in a start this season.

In 13 career games (4 starts) against the Marlins, Samardzija is 2-1 with one save and a 5.46 ERA.

Lefty Randy Wolf makes his third start of the year for the Marlins. Wolf is coming off his first win, against Tampa Bay Monday when he yielded three hits and a run while fanning seven over six innings. He's 6-11 with a 3.53 ERA 25 starts against the Cubs.

Yesterday, Anthony Rizzo launched a game-winning, two-run homer in the bottom of the 13th inning to send the Cubs to a 5-3 victory.

After striking out the final two hitters in the 12th, Kevin Slowey (1-1) returned to the mound for the 13th, but served up a leadoff single to Junior Lake before Rizzo scorched a first-pitch curveball over the wall in right.

"I had a pretty good idea that Rizzo was going to be aggressive and wasn't able to get the ball where I needed to get it and he put a good swing on it," Slowey said of giving up Rizzo's game-winning homer.

Rizzo finished with four RBI, while Chris Coghlan collected two hits and an RBI for the Cubs, who have won a season-high four straight games.

"They're playing with a lot of confidence right now," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said of his club. "I think they're continuing to pick each other up. I think they're starting to feel and know that they can do this."

Carlos Villanueva (2-5) picked up the victory after striking out three over two flawless innings of relief work.

Garrett Jones smacked three hits and scored once, while Reed Johnson stroked a two-run, pinch-hit single to tie the game in the ninth for the Marlins, who had a four-game win streak halted.

Chicago, which has won seven of its last eight home games, has beaten the Marlins in seven of the last 10 meetings.






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