Chicago Cubs Score

Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (8/23/24): Cubs 6, Marlins 3 – Homers Inside, Outside Park Lead to Win

Photo of Sean Holland Sean HollandAugust 24, 2024

The Cubs traveled to loanDepot Park Friday to take on the Marlins as they continued their unlikely push for the playoffs. Chicago gave up an early lead but rallied late to go ahead for good and bring home a series-opening 6-3 win.

Miami got on the scoreboard first against Kyle Hendricks in the bottom of the 2nd when Connor Norby doubled and came home on an RBI groundout by Derek Hill. Pete Crow-Armstrong started the 3rd inning off in electrifying fashion when he lined a pitch from Max Meyer past a lunging Jesús Sánchez in right field. The ball rolled away from Sánchez, allowing Armstrong to fly all the way around the bases for an inside-the-park home run. Ian Happ then hit a routine over-the-wall two-run homer later in the frame to put the Cubs on top 3-1.

Jonah Bride singled home a run in the bottom of the inning to cut the margin to 3-2, then Hendricks was pulled with two on and two outs in the 5th. Tyson Miller came on in relief and walked the first two batters he faced to force in the game-tying tally.

The North Siders broke the deadlock against reliever Brett de Geus in the 8th when Seiya Suzuki got a base hit, advanced to second on a botched pickoff attempt, and came in to score on a double by Isaac Paredes. The Cubs got crucial 9th inning insurance on that 4-3 lead in the form of a long two-run homer from Miguel Amaya that increased the margin to 6-3.

Jorge López was perfect in the bottom of the frame to save the 6-3 victory and get Chicago to within a game of the .500 mark. (Box score)

Key Moment

After Miller walked in a run in the 5th, Derek Hill hit a smash to second that Nico Hoerner jumped high into the air to snag. Without Hoerner’s amazing play, Miami would have scored at least two runs on that swing. Instead, the Fish failed to score for the rest of the game Friday.

Why the Cubs Won

The bullpen worked its way out of a few jams with the help of the defense erasing a couple of runners on the basepaths. The bottom of the lineup also continues to produce offense.

Stats That Matter

  • Hendricks was not super sharp but he did not let the game get away from him: 4.2 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 0 K, and 2 BB.
  • Amaya has five hits, including two home runs, and seven RBI in his last two games.
  • PCA reached base three times Friday and rounded the bases in 14 seconds on his inside-the-park homer.

Bottom Line

In May and June, Amaya looked completely lost with the bat and behind the plate defensively. A lot of people, myself included, were thinking Triple-A was the only move to get him turned around. Then, almost out of nowhere after getting a couple days off, the switch apparently flipped for the young catcher and he has been terrific in all aspects of his game in the second half. As for the Cubs, they just have to keep finding a way to win every game they can, this was a good start.

On Deck

The two teams meet for game two of the series on Saturday at 3:10pm CT. Chicago sends Shōta Imanaga to the hill to face off against Valente Bellozo in a contest broadcast on Marquee and 670 The Score.

Photo of Sean Holland Sean HollandAugust 24, 2024
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