Cubs not up to par in loss to Marlins
MIAMI -- The golf analogy before the game seemed humorous.
"We started out yesterday with three mulligans in our pocket, and we hit one out of bounds," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "Now we're down to two. Let's hope we don't have to use these other two."
Uh-oh. The Cubs used another one Wednesday night in a sloppy 7-4 loss to the Florida Marlins.
To use another golf term, do the Cubs have a case of the yips?
"Reality's setting in," said second baseman Mark DeRosa, who made a throwing error in Florida's 3-run second inning. "We realize we still have work to do. I said that after the game (Sunday) against Pittsburgh. We realize that.
"We're not making it easy on ourselves, and we haven't been all year. It's nice to know we have a cushion, and we'll still have one after tonight, as slim as it might be.
"I'd like to think we're not playing tight, but maybe there's some circumstances where we were."
The Cubs (83-75) got help in reducing their magic number to 3 for clinching the National League Central as the Cardinals beat the second-place Brewers.
Even though they lead Milwaukee by 2 games, the Cubs won't be able to clinch the division until they get to Cincinnati this weekend. They'll depend on Steve Trachsel to pitch today, and Trachsel had some choice words for reporters watching the Brewers-Cardinals game on the clubhouse TV.
"Turn it … off," Trachsel yelled angrily clear across the room.
If that was Trachsel getting his game face on, the Cubs might be fine. If that was Trachsel displaying some anxiousness, the Cubs could be in for another dicey game against the Marlins, who have beaten them nine straight times dating to last year.
"It was a bad ballgame for us; it wasn't a good game at all," said manager Lou Piniella, who lamented the lack of pregame batting and fielding practice before both games because of the rain in Florida.
"I don't know if it's because we haven't been on the field for three days now or what. But it wasn't a good ballgame. We've got to play better than that if we want to move forward."
The Marlins scored a run against Jason Marquis (12-9) in the first inning before the Cubs came back for 2 against Daniel Barone in the second on Jacque Jones' single.
Piniella had his bullpen up in the second, when Marquis got into trouble by giving up singles to No. 7 hitter Matt Treanor and Alejandro De Aza to start the inning. One out later, Hanley Ramirez grounded the ball to DeRosa, who threw the ball into left field while trying to start a double play.
That allowed 1 run to score, and after a walk to Dan Uggla, Jeremy Hermida singled 2 home.
Derrek Lee hit a solo homer for the Cubs in the third -- right after Alfonso Soriano was doubled off first base on a lineout -- and Jones' sacrifice fly tied the game at 4-4 in the fourth.
Marquis gave up a run in the fifth before Piniella turned to Carlos Marmol in the sixth. Marmol entered the game with a 22½-inning scoreless streak, but he gave up a 2-run homer in the seventh to Miguel Cabrera after Hermida doubled with one out.
The Cubs did nothing against seven Florida relievers, but Piniella saw better things for today, using the golf analogy again.
"We've got one (mulligan) left, and I tell you what, I usually like to keep it on the golf course through the 18th hole," Piniella said, laughing. "I'm not sure now. We're going to go out and play tomorrow. We'll beat these guys tomorrow, and go from there, that's all."
Marlins 7, Cubs 4
At the plate: Jacque Jones had 3 RBI, 2 coming on a second-inning single and the other on a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Derrek Lee hit his 21st homer of the season, a solo shot in the third. The homer was preceded by Alfonso Soriano getting doubled off first base on a lineout by Ryan Theriot.
On the mound: Jason Marquis pitched 5 innings, giving up 9 hits and 5 runs (4 earned). He was victimized by some sloppy play in the field. Carlos Marmol gave up a 2-run homer to Miguel Cabrera in the seventh as the Marlins put the game away.
-- Bruce Miles