MIAMI (AP) — Jean Segura hit a game-ending RBI single, lifting the Miami Marlins to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Friday night.
Jorge Soler sparked the winning rally with a leadoff single. Michael Rucker (1-1) then plunked Luis Arraez and Avisaíl García before Segura hit a grounder back up the middle and through a drawn-in infield.
“Every time you put a ‘W’ on the board is always good,” Segura said. “It’s not about me. It’s about the team winning baseball games and playing good baseball.”
Segura is in his first season with Miami after finalizing a $17 million, two-year contract in January. The veteran infielder entered Friday’s game with a .203 batting average.
“I don’t remember having a tougher stretch,” Segura said. “At some point, it happens to all major leaguers. I have to continue working hard and do my best to get out of it.”
A.J. Puk (3-0) got three outs for the win. Chicago put two runners on with two out in the top half of the ninth, but Nelson Velázquez bounced into a forceout at second.
Miami improved to 8-0 in one-run games this season. The Marlins also are 3-0 in their teal jerseys this year.
“We have a lot of winners in our clubhouse,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “They know what winning looks like.”
The Cubs wasted a strong start by Marcus Stroman, who allowed two runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Chicago went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position and left seven runners on base.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled twice and stole two bases for the Marlins. Jesús Luzardo also pitched 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball.
“We have tremendous confidence in our bullpen and tremendous confidence with our batters as well,” Luzardo said. “It doesn’t matter that we are losing by two, three, five runs. Everyone in the dugout is optimistic we are going to score.”
The Cubs grabbed a 2-1 lead on Eric Hosmer’s pinch-hit RBI single in the seventh. Hosmer drove in Cody Bellinger, who tripled with one out on a line drive to left.
The Marlins tied it in the bottom half of the inning. Arraez walked, advanced to third on García’s single and scored on Segura’s single to left.
“I feel like I’m starting to catch my stride and as the year progresses, I won’t have those spurts where I kind of lose it with a batter on four pitches,” Stroman said of his walk to Arraez.
Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner singled in the third, extending his on-base streak to 23 games. It is the third longest active streak in the majors.
Chicago jumped in front on Velázquez’s solo shot in the third. Velázquez drove Luzardo’s first pitch over the wall in left for his third homer.
Miami tied in the bottom half when Jesús Sánchez scored from third on a double-play grounder by Jon Berti.
HITTING THE ROAD
Chicago played 16 of its first 24 games at home. The series opener against Miami began a stretch of 16 of the next 22 away from Wrigley Field.
ROSTER MOVES
The Cubs reinstated Bellinger from the paternity list and designated catcher Luis Torrens for assignment.
The Marlins promoted right-hander Johan Quezada from Triple-A Jacksonville and designated left-hander Devin Smeltzer for assignment.
TRAINERS’ ROOM
Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks (right shoulder strain) allowed six runs and six hits in 1 2/3 innings in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Iowa on Thursday.
Marlins: INF Joey Wendle (strained right intercostal) went hitless in three at-bats in a rehab game with Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday. … RHP Johnny Cueto (right biceps tightness) is scheduled to throw 60 pitches in an extended spring training outing Monday.
UP NEXT
RHP Caleb Kilian will make his season debut for the Cubs in the second game of the series Saturday. The 25-year-old Kilian is currently at Iowa but manager David Ross confirmed his pending promotion on Friday. The Marlins will go with RHP Edward Cabrera (1-2, 4.91 ERA).
