Patton gets first win ... and then a beer shower

Something dawned on Ryan Theriot after he hit a grand slam in the sixth inning Friday to spark the Cubs to an 8-6 victory over the Marlins. That something was that rookie pitcher David Patton was in line for his first major-league victory.

"It was awesome that he could get that win," Theriot said. "Sometimes it takes guys a long time. He came out in the dugout after I hit it and was sitting there kind of quiet, looking over at me. I said, 'Are you the pitcher of record right here?' He said, 'Yeah.' We're super excited for him. He's done a great job this year."

The Cubs obtained Patton from the Reds in a trade at the winter meetings after Cincinnati took him in the Rule 5 draft out of Colorado's system. Patton, who turns 25 on May 18, had never pitched above Class A ball and had some rough times in April.

He got the game ball and a beer shower.

"It feels good to be part of a winning effort and to get the win," he said. "It's a milestone in my book. Big day for me."

Quick turnaround: Reliever Carlos Marmol walked the first two batters he faced in the eighth inning and was all over the place with his command. But he seemed to flip a switch, and it led to him striking out the next three.

Marmol walked two Thursday night and four Wednesday in Arizona.

"I asked (pitching coach) Larry Rothschild," said manager Lou Piniella. "He has a tendency when he comes into the ballgame of working under the ball a little bit. I think what we're going to do, at least in the bullpen, to bounce a few baseballs. I'm serious when I say that because it really makes him work on top of the ball a little more."

Marmol agreed that he was "pushing" the ball.

"That's what I was doing; I watched the videos," he said. "The ball was flying up there. You've got to be smart."

Defense, defense: After committing 3 errors Thursday, the Cubs played mistake-free ball Friday. Lou Piniella has worried about "sloppy" defense in the first month.

"Look, you've got to have good defensive play," Piniella said. "It all starts with good defensive play because, invariably, it helps your pitching be a lot better. So when you're not catching the ball, it makes it very tough. You're going to have to score more runs, and your pitchers are going to have to pitch better. Everything's magnified."

This and that: Aramis Ramirez (calf injury) pinch hit in the seventh for his first appearance since last Friday. ... Backup catcher Koyie Hill took pregame grounders at third base. ... Ryan Theriot's 4 RBI were a career high. ... Reed Johnson snapped an 0-for-12 skid and went 2-for-3.