Samardzija, Cubs' offense team up for win
Starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija and run support usually do not go together.
This time, the offense made sure it held up its end Saturday in a 5-2 victory over the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field, the fifth straight win for the Cubs.
Samardzija, often mentioned in trade rumors, was thankful for the run support. "I love the way we're swinging it right now," he said, "and, as a pitcher, that gives you confidence."
After the shortest outing of his career in his previous start, Samardzija (2-5) went 7 innings. He allowed 2 runs on 5 hits, throwing 103 pitches, 70 for strikes.
"Today was a pretty standard day, as according to this year," Samardzija said. "I like to think I've worked hard and changed a lot of things and made adjustments over the years to be the guy I am today."
Rick Renteria said every player on the roster has had a hand in the winning streak.
"I think everybody is contributing in some way, shape or form," said the Cubs' manager. "Junior (Lake) adding 2 solo home runs there … those are big runs obviously.
"Yes, It's comes through many different people throughout the lineup."
Renteria also thanked Samardzija along with the bullpen. "Again, tip your hat to Jeff for giving us that opportunity," he said, "and the relief corps came in and did a nice job."
Christian Yelich homered in the second inning to put the Marlins up 1-0.
In the third, Emilio Bonifacio put the Cubs up 2-1 with a 2-run homer to left field, his first of the season. Samardzija scored on the blast after reaching on a single.
In the fifth, Lake hit a 2-1 pitch to dead-center for his seventh home run. He hit another one in the seventh inning for the second multihomer game in his career.
The Marlins cut the lead to 3-2 when Giancarlo Stanton scored on a Casey McGehee groundout. Stanton broke out of a 0-for-8 slump with a double to left field and advanced to third on a Samardzija wild pitch to set up the run.
The Cubs got on the board again in the sixth when Starlin Castro, after a double to lead off the inning, scored after a wild pitch from Marlins starter Randy Wolf.
The bullpen, with a 2.06 ERA in 23 games dating to May 12, held the lead for Samardzija. Wesley Wright, Justin Grimm and Pedro Strop (second save) slammed the door on the Marlins.
Anthony Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a single and a double.
Wolf (1-2), who missed all of last season after having Tommy John surgery in 2012, went 5⅔ innings and finished with 2 strikeouts, a walk and a wild pitch.
"I thought he pitched all right," Miami manager Mike Redmond said of Wolf. "I mean, he kept us in the game. He gave us a chance. He didn't get a whole lot on the edges today, and he's a guy that kind of relies on the edges of the plate. They made him throw it over the plate, and they got some big hits."