Gregg's blown save spoils solid outing by Dempster
The Cubs' dream of a series win in South Florida turned to fish paste in a matter of seconds.
After Jake Fox homered to give the visitors 1-run lead in the top of the ninth inning, closer Kevin Gregg blew a save for the second straight day. Dan Uggla and Cody Ross crushed home runs on back-to-back pitches, giving the Florida Marlins a walk-off 3-2 victory.
"It wasn't pretty," Cubs manager Lou Piniella told reporters after the game. "The thing finished quick. Two pitches, 2 home runs. What are you going to do?"
Gregg had converted 10 consecutive save opportunities before visiting his old home this weekend. He spent the previous two seasons with the Marlins.
On Saturday, Gregg gave up a 3-run lead in the ninth, but the Cubs pulled out a win in the 10th. This time he retired the first batter in the ninth, went to a 3-1 count on Uggla and got rocked twice in a row.
"It was 2 pitches," Gregg said. "Twenty-five guys put together a great effort and 2 pitches are why we walk out of here losing."
Gregg (4-3) has converted 21 of 26 saves this season. The Cubs missed a chance to move back into first place in the NL Central, since St. Louis lost to Houston on Sunday.
"I've seen Uggla hit a lot, and he usually doesn't hit sliders all that well," Gregg added. "It's part of the game."
"I've seen Gregg over the last few years, and he's been as dominant as anybody," Uggla said. "He's got great stuff. I saw a ton of sliders this whole homestand and they got me, but everything just kind of went right for me on that one swing."
The late collapse also spoiled a nice outing by Ryan Dempster, who threw 6 shutout innings and allowed just 3 hits in his second start since recovering from a broken toe.
The Cubs went ahead 1-0 in the third when Derrick Lee's RBI single drove home Mike Fontenot. After that, Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco retired 14 straight batters before leaving after the seventh inning. Florida tied the score in the seventh when Ross homered off Aaron Heilman.
Third baseman Aramis Ramirez skipped Sunday's game after getting hit with a pitch on the left forearm the previous night. He expects to play Monday night in Cincinnati.
<p class="factboxheadblack">Mike McGraw's game tracker</p> <p class="News"><b>Another late meltdown: </b>Kevin Gregg suffered through his second blown save in as many days. The Cubs recovered to win in 10 innings Saturday but lost Sunday when Gregg gave up home runs to Dan Uggla and Cody Ross on consecutive pitches with one out in the ninth inning.</p> <p class="News"><b>Fox on the home run:</b> Jake Fox, starting at third base in place of Aramis Ramirez, belted a go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth, giving the Cubs a temporary 2-1 edge.</p> <p class="News"><b>Dempster is sharp:</b> In his second start since recovering from a broken toe, Ryan Dempster pitched 6 shutout innings while allowing just 3 hits.</p> <p class="breakhead">Scouting report</p> <p class="News">Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park</p> <p class="News"><b>TV:</b> Channel 26 Monday, Comcast SportsNet Tuesday, Wednesday.</p> <p class="News"><b>Radio:</b> WGN 720-AM</p> <p class="News"><b>Pitching matchups:</b> The Cubs' Randy Wells (7-4) vs. Aaron Harang (5-12) Monday; Tom Gorzelanny (3-1) vs. Johnny Cueto (8-8) Tuesday; Rich Harden (7-6) vs. Justin Lehr (0-0) Wednesday. All games 6:10 p.m.</p> <p class="News"><b>Update:</b> The Cubs are 12-5 since the all-star break. - The Reds have dropped six in a row, all at home, and 12 of their last 13 overall. - Randy Wells went 5-1 in July, becoming the first Cubs rookie to win five games in a single month since Bob Chipman in July 1944. - Newly arrived Reds third baseman Scott Rolen was beaned in the head by Colorado's Jason Marquis on Sunday but said he expects to play Monday night. - The Cubs are 6-3 against Cincinnati this season.</p> <p class="News"><b>Next: </b>The Cubs play at Colorado, Friday-Monday.</p>