Cubs have Marmol working on his grip

Manager Mike Quade didn’t have to worry about choosing a closer on Saturday, since the Cubs trailed the Marlins for the full nine innings.

Quade plans to give Carlos Marmol a break after two poor performances. Marmol gave up 5 runs and 4 walks on Thursday, blowing a 2-0 ninth-inning lead. On Friday, he allowed a ninth-inning run before Sean Marshall came on to finish a 2-1 victory. The closing duties, if needed, would likely fall to Marshall or Kerry Wood.

Marmol, now 19-for-26 on the season in save opportunities, worked with pitching coach Mark Riggins on his mechanics and is expected to throw on the side Sunday. Riggins said he wants Marmol to change his grip on the ball, getting his hand on top of the ball instead of on the side.

“That’s a day-to-day type of deal,” Quade said. “They were real happy with a lot of the stuff they covered today. It’s like going back to basics and taking him through all sorts of film. They’ve watched film as if they’re movie critics.

“They’ve been watching film for two, three days with this guy to get him to go back to 2008 and some of the times when he was good. So start with that and tweak his mechanics a little bit. Just try to get him back to when he was good, when he was feeling comfortable. That should wind up being what we see when he comes back.”

Marmol hasn’t recorded a strikeout in his last six appearances. Last season, he averaged 15.9 strikeouts per 9 innings.

Vazquez victorious:Javier Vazquez came into Saturday#146;s start with a 5-8 record and 5.23 ERA, but he#146;s been on a roll lately. In his previous five starts, he went 2-2 with a 1.19 ERA.He actually slacked off a bit against the Cubs, giving up 3 runs in 7 innings, although the Cubs managed just one baserunner in the first five innings. Vazquez struck out 10 for the first time in two years and walked no one.#147;I#146;m staying more aggressive, just pounding the strike zone,#148; Vazquez told mlb.com. #147;That#146;s what I have to keep doing. I have to be more aggressive with my pitches.#148;Vazquez, 35, is pitching for his third team in as many years following three seasons with the White Sox.Roster move:Right-hander Chris Carpenter was sent to Triple A Iowa on Saturday, creating room for Carlos Zambrano to be activated from the 15-day disabled list. Carpenter posted a 2.79 ERA in 10 relief appearances.Ramon Ortiz, who relieved Carlos Zambrano on Saturday, moves from the rotation to the bullpen.Cubs notes:Hall of Famer Andre Dawson threw out first pitch and sang seventh-inning stretch. The former Cubs MVP still works as a Marlins special assistant and was on field in a Florida uniform before game. ... The Cubs thought they got a break in the fourth inning when Marlins third baseman Emilio Bonifacio lost a Carlos Pena infield pop up in the sun. As Bonifacio ran away, the ball landed about 3 feet in fair territory, but rolled foul and Pena struck out on the next pitch.