Cubs stagger past Marlins 9-8 in 10 innings

Posted July 31, 2009 11:00 pm

Mike McGraw

Derrek Lee picked a brilliant time to play human eraser.

After the Cubs endured one of the more painful bullpen breakdowns of the season - closer Kevin Gregg squandered a 3-run lead with two outs in the bottom of the ninth - Lee made it irrelevant when he stepped to the plate and smacked the second pitch of the 10th inning deep into the left-field seats for his 21st home run of the season.

When Aaron Heilman retired the side in order in the bottom of the 10th, the Cubs had pulled out a 9-8 victory at Florida to stay within a half-game of St. Louis in the NL Central.

The win did come with consequences. Starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano left the mound after just 3 innings because of a stiff back.

"It's nothing to worry about," Zambrano told reporters after the game. "It's just a tight back. I'll just have to treat it and get ready for my next start."

Third baseman Aramis Ramirez was hit by a pitch on the left forearm in the 10th and initially stayed in the game but left a couple of batters later.

"He's OK," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "He was dizzy from pain. We'll see how he feels Sunday."

The Cubs (55-47) headed into the bottom of the ninth leading 8-5. Gregg, a former Marlin, then struck out the first two batters of the inning.

But Ronny Paulino homered, Chris Coghlan and Nick Johnson singled, before Emilio Bonifacio drilled a 3-2 pitch over Kosuke Fukudome's head in center field for a game-tying triple.

Gregg's fourth blown save of the season followed an adventurous eighth inning by Carlos Marmol, the losing pitcher in Friday's game. Marmol started with a walk and hit batsman. After a sacrifice bunt, he walked Jorge Cantu intentionally to load the bases with one out.

Marmol survived unscathed, though, by striking out Dan Uggla and Jeremy Hermida to preserve the Cubs' lead, which was 6-5 at the time.

After jumping to a 6-0 lead in the second inning, the Cubs were fortunate to finally tack on a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth on Ryan Theriot's 2-run triple. Theriot didn't start Saturday, but he entered the game in the fifth inning.

The Cubs teed off on Marlins right-hander Burke Badenhop, a reliever making his second start of the season. Badenhop also was pitching for the first time since serving a three-game suspension for hitting the Los Angeles Dodgers' Orlando Hudson with a pitch last Sunday.

After getting tagged for 5 earned runs in 12/3 innings Saturday, Badenhop's ERA against the Cubs this season is 34.71. On May 1 at Wrigley Field, he gave up 4 earned runs - all on a grand slam by Theriot - in two-thirds of an innings and took the loss.

In the first inning, Ramirez doubled in a pair of runs, then scored on a throwing error by catcher John Baker. In the second, Lee doubled home 2 runs, and Ramirez added an RBI single to make it 6-0.

Zambrano walked the bases loaded in the first inning and eventually needed 62 pitches to get through 3 innings. He gave up 2 runs and hit Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez just above the left knee in the second inning. The NL batting leader collapsed to the ground and left the game with a bruised knee.

Florida Marlins catcher John Baker, left, is unable to tag Derrek Lee as he scores on an Aramis Ramirez double during the first inning. Associated Press

Mike McGraw's game tracker Bullpen adventure: Carlos Marmol loaded the bases in the eighth, but survived unscathed. Then Kevin Gregg gave up a 3-run lead in the ninth for his fourth blown save of the season. Finally, Aaron Heilman retired the side in the 10th to preserve the 9-8 win at Florida on Saturday. Runs early and late: The Cubs jumped to a 6-0 lead in the second inning, thanks to 2-run doubles by Aramis Ramirez and Derrick Lee. They didn't score again until Ryan Theriot's 2-run triple in the ninth and Lee belted the game-winning home run in the 10th. Injury alert: Starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano left the game after 3 innings with a stiff back. Aramis Ramirez was hit by a pitch on the left forearm in the 10th and headed to the dugout a couple batters later. Alfonso Soriano was called on to play both second and third base in the bottom of the 10th. Pennant fever: The Cubs entered August within a game of first place or better for the third straight year, the first time that has happened since 1935-37.

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