Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (4/30/23): Marlins 4, Cubs 3 – Cubs Suffer Another Close Loss, Swept by Marlins

The Cubs took on the Marlins Sunday afternoon trying to avoid being swept for the first time in 2023. Another one-run contest, the third in three games, went Miami’s way and Chicago indeed got the broom.

Dansby Swanson put the Cubs ahead with an RBI single to bring home Edwin Ríos, who had doubled, in the top of the 3rd. The Marlins answered right back against Justin Steele, scoring two runs on a passed ball and a hit by batting champion Luis Arraez in the bottom of the frame.

Seiya Suzuki tripled in the 4th and came in to score on a Cody Bellinger sacrifice fly to tie the game. The home team took the advantage right back the next half inning on a Garrett Hampson double that was placed perfectly inside the first base bag.

Bellinger evened the score in the 6th with a long homer off of Andrew Nardi. Keegan Thompson opened the bottom of the 8th with a walk of Jon Berti who would go on to score the game-winning run on a sac fly by Arraez. (Box score)

Key Moment

The Cubs had two men on base with one out in the top of the 8th with Nelson Velázquez at the plate. Velázquez hit a lined smash directly to the third baseman, which became a double play with a throw behind the runner at second to end the inning.

Why the Cubs Lost

For the third straight game, they could not get the big hit with runners in scoring position.

Stats That Matter

• Steele was good but just not quite as good as his first four starts: 6 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 7 H, 3 K, 1 BB.
• Bellinger had another productive day at the plate with two RBI.
• Nico Hoerner extended his on-base streak to 25 games.
• Michael Fulmer had another impressive scoreless frame on Sunday.

Bottom Line

That was an incredibly frustrating series in which the Cubs could have won every single game and instead lost them all. If they, or any team for that matter, can’t hit with runners in scoring position they aren’t going to win. Hopefully, getting out of Florida will change their fortunes.

On Deck

Chicago begins a four-game series in Washington DC against the Nationals starting Monday at 6:05pm CT. Drew Smyly takes on fellow southpaw MacKenzie Gore with the telecast provided by Marquee and radio on 670 The Score.