MIAMI — Bryan De La Cruz had the highlight moment. The outfielder sent a full-count changeup a projected 398 feet to right-center field for a third-inning grand slam to give the Miami Marlins the lead for good in a 10-3 win over the Chicago Cubs on Monday at loanDepot park to begin a three-game series.
But how the situation presented itself is worth reviewing.
So here’s the scene:
The Marlins (61-87) were down 2-1 with one out in the third inning after Jon Berti hit a home run to left-center field. Charles Leblanc reached on an error when Cubs shortstop Christopher Morel’s throw pulled first baseman P.J. Higgins off the bag. Brian Anderson was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second base.
After a Garrett Cooper lineout, Nick Fortes loaded the bases with a broken-bat infield single when his ground ball bounced off the third-base bag and skipped into the air long enough for all three runners to be safe.
De La Cruz then proceeded to work the count full against Cubs starter Wade Miley before sending the changeup to right-center field for his 10th home run of the season and his third since rejoining the big-league club earlier this month after a three-week demotion to Triple A Jacksonville.
In his 11 games back, De La Cruz is hitting .333 (10 for 30) with the three home runs, one double, 12 RBI and seven runs scored. He has safely reached base or driven in a run in the 10 games in which he has had at least one plate appearance.
Miami scored two more runs in the fourth on a Berti RBI single and a wild pitch that allowed Jerar Encarnacion to score from third base. Miguel Rojas tacked on an RBI single of his own in the seventh as part of a three-hit night and Leblanc hit a two-run home run in the eighth.
— Marlins starting pitcher Edward Cabrera was relieved after just five innings and 79 pitches on Monday. He held the Cubs (62-85) to three runs on three hits, three walks and two hit by pitches while striking out four. The right-handed pitcher pointed toward his left side after he attempted to field a Yan Gomes groundball that went just past the pitcher’s mound on the final play of the top of the fifth inning.
Huascar Brazoban, Richard Bleier, Bryan Hoeing and Andrew Nardi tossed the final four innings.
