Despite getting only three hits in the entire game, the Chicago Cubs (44-36) shut out the Miami Marlins (35-48) 2-0 at Wrigley Field Sunday afternoon to take the series 2-1. With the win, the Cubs even the now-finished season series at three wins each.
A wild pitch allowed the Cubs' first run to score. In the bottom of the first, Chris Coghlan drew a one-out walk. He advanced to third on Kris Bryant's single. Coghlan then scored when Marlins starter Mat Latos threw a pitch in the dirt that catcher Jeff Mathis could not handle. That run looked like it would stand as the game's only score as both Latos and Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks traded zeroes from that point through eighth inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, Coghlan gave the Cubs an insurance run with a single into right that scored Chris Denorfia, who doubled to open the inning. Coghlan's hit came two outs later.
Bryant, Denorfia, and Coghlan were the only Cubs to hit safely, and the Marlins had only five hits themselves. Anthony Rizzo sat out to get a day of rest as Mike Baxter played first base for the Cubs.
Hendricks (W: 4-4, 3.82) pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings, and he has started to look more like the pitcher he was in his rookie season of 2014. He allowed five hits while walking one and striking out six. Pedro Strop finished the eighth, and Jason Motte (S: 4) got the only three Marlins hitters in the ninth.
Motte struck out Justin Bour on a 3-2 fastball to end the game on a pitch that looked well below the knees. Motte, though, got the call despite the Marlins' arguments. A call of ball four would have brought the potential tying run to the plate.
Latos (L: 3-6, 4.90) suffered a tough-luck loss as he allowed just one run on one hit in seven innings. He walked two and struck out seven. His offense, though, could not support him in his stellar performance.
The Marlins have Monday off before traveling to Fenway Park to face the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday and Wednesday. They will head into the All-Star break with a four-game home series with the Cincinnati Reds beginning Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Cubs have some very important business of their own at hand beginning Monday as they host the N.L. Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals for four games in three days -- including a double-header on Tuesday. The Cubs then take Thursday off before hosting the Chicago White Sox in the first of two Windy City series to come in 2015.