Drew Smyly tossed shutout ball into the seventh inning for his first win at Wrigley Field, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 4-0 victory against the Miami Marlins on Saturday.
P.J. Higgins homered and singled, and Nico Hoerner added three hits and an RBI to help the Cubs win for a second straight day after losing five straight.
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Ian Happ had two hits and scored a run and Willson Contreras had an RBI single. Both All-Stars, Happ and Contreras were the subject of trade rumors before Tuesday’s deadline but remained with the Cubs.
The Marlins have lost six of seven and were shut out for the 12th time this season.
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“That was a really nice pitching performance,” Cubs manager David Ross said. “It looked like (Smyly) was pitching different today, a lot of stuff away. I thought he used both sides of the plate real well and did a real nice job.”
Smyly (4-6) finally prevailed in his sixth start this season at Wrigley after signing a one-year, $5.25 million contract in March that includes incentive pay and an option for 2023.
“We’re in August and its the first win at home, so I realized that and it’s awesome to get a win here,” Smyly said. “Obviously we’re not having the best season, pretty behind in the standings, but you go out there every game and every fan is cheering for you. It’s a packed house and the energy is better than anywhere.”
The 33-year-old lefty allowed five hits, struck out four and walked none before Mark Leiter Jr. replaced with two outs in the seventh.
Leiter retired the final seven Marlins hitters.
Smyly was 11-4 last season for the World Series champion Atlanta Braves but missed six weeks this year with an oblique strain. He returned July 10 but had struggled since with a 6.06 ERA in four starts heading into Saturday.
The Marlins Pablo López (7-7) allowed four runs on nine hits in five-plus innings.
Smyly got some help when the Cubs kept the Marlins from taking a 1-0 lead in the third with a successful challenge. Miguel Rojas was called safe by plate umpire Larry Vanover when he tried to score from second on Bryan De La Cruz’s single to right. The call was overturned after video showed catcher Higgins tagged Rojas’ foot inches from the plate after taking Seiya Suzuki’s strong throw.
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“I thought I stuck my glove in there and I couldn’t tell,” Higgins said. “I knew I got him but I don’t know if I got him right before the plate.”
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The Cubs jumped ahead 1-0 in the fourth when Happ doubled and Hoerner singled him home. They added two more in the fifth.
Higgins led off the sixth with a solo shot just inside the left-field foul pole to chase López.
“We had something decent early, but it seemly like once they scored, it got away from us,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.
The Cubs reinstated 11-year veteran shortstop Andrelton Simmons from the injured list Saturday, then designated the four-time Gold Glove winner for assignment before the game
Simmons, 32, signed a $4 million deal with the Cubs in March and appeared to be slotted for a regular role. But he appeared in just 34 games because of two right shoulder injuries, batting .173 with seven RBIs.
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Simmons hadn’t appeared in a game since July 10 but had just completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa.
Cubs rookie Christopher Morel left the game with right hamstring tightness after breaking an 0-for-25 slump with a single in the fifth and scoring. He’s day to day.