Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (Simulated Game 56): Cubs 8, Marlins 2 – Rizzo Continues Hot Streak with Two More Homers

The Chicago Cubs (36-20) pulled out another victory over the Miami Marlins (25-31), and this time it didn’t take any late-inning heroics. The Cubs received a strong performance from Yu Darvish and the offense jumped on the Marlins pitching staff, winning 8-2 via MLB The Show 20.

Pablo López started against the Cubs for Miami and he did not fare well. Nico Hoerner hit a single to right field and stole second base to open the bottom of the 1st, then came around to score on a hit by Ian Happ. After a Kris Bryant flyout, Anthony Rizzo hit a double but Happ was thrown out trying to score. Now with two outs in the inning, Kyle Schwarber stepped to the plate.

Schwarber drilled a first-pitch fastball up the middle of the field, bringing Rizzo around from second base for an early 2-0 lead. Chicago added another run in the 3rd on an RBI single by Bryant, taking a 3-0 lead over the Marlins. That would be enough for Darvish, went seven strong innings with just one run allowed on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.

The one run he allowed came in the 4th inning with two outs, when Brian Anderson hit a bloop single to left field and Matt Joyce followed with an RBI double down the line in right. That made the score 3-1.

Rizzo crushed a homer to deep right field to make it 4-1 in the 5th, and a double to the gap in right-center by David Bote followed by an RBI-single by Jason Heyward made it 5-1 and ended López’s day. He went 4 2/3 innings and allowed five earned on 11 hits with one walk only one strikeout.

The Cubs weren’t done scoring, though Marlins pitching prospect Sixto Sanchez took over on the mound and was able to get out of the 5th inning without further damage. In the 6th, Rizzo hit another home run to deep right field to plate two runs and put the Cubs ahead 7-1. It was his second of the day and fourth in the last two games.

Happ drove in the final run of the game for the Cubs in the 7th inning, knocking a hit to left field that scored Robel García for an 8-1 lead. The Marlins would scratch out a run in the top of the 8th against Adbert Alzolay, but that’s all they would get. Alzolay pitched well overall, throwing two innings in relief of Darvish and allowing the lone run on one hit and two walks, and striking out three to close out the 8-2 win.

Notes: Rizzo was given a day off by manager David Ross last Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. At the time, he was hitting .267. In five games since then, he has gone 12-for-21 with five home runs and has raised his batting average to .299 … Hoerner stole two more bases in the game, which Ross mentioned as an important dynamic that he brings to the team. The Cubs don’t swipe many bags outside of Hoerner, who has 11 steals in 12 attempts.

Key Players:

Rizzo – 3-for-5, 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI
Happ – 3-for-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI
Hoerner – 3-for-5, 2B, 2 SB
Darvish – 7 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 7 K
Anderson – 2-for-3, BB, R
Dickerson – 1-for-4, 2B, RBI

Winning Pitcher – Darvish (6-2)
Losing Pitcher – López (5-3)
Save – None
Home Runs – Rizzo 2 (16)

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