Hammel, Chapman Pitch Cubs Past Fernandez, Marlins 3-2
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CHICAGO (AP) — Jason Hammel threw six scoreless innings, Dexter Fowler had three hits and the Chicago Cubs beat Miami ace Jose Fernandez and the Marlins 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Hammel (11-5) extended Chicago's scoreless streak to 24 innings before the bullpen overcame Pedro Strop's shaky seventh. Aroldis Chapman hit 104.4 mph on the radar gun in a perfect ninth as the Cubs won for the sixth time in seven games.
Fernandez (12-6) allowed three runs and eight hits over six innings, losing consecutive starts for the first time since his 2013 rookie season.
Hammel, who gave up four hits, threw 80 pitches before being lifted for a pinch-hitter.
Adeiny Hechavarria and J.T. Realmuto each hit an RBI single in the seventh off Strop, who also committed a throwing error. Chris Coghlan's diving catch of Christian Yelich's looping liner to left field with two on ended the threat.
Chapman struck out one for his second save in three tries since being acquired from the Yankees.
Fowler led off the first with a triple and scored on catcher Willson Contreras' single. Batting Contreras second worked for manager Joe Maddon, as Fowler and Contreras had consecutive hits again in the third to produce another run.
Fowler added an RBI single in the fifth off Fernandez, who fanned eight and took over the major league lead with 192 strikeouts.
Miguel Montero, batting for Hammel, struck out with two on to end the sixth. Travis Wood replaced the struggling Strop with runners at the corners and two outs in the seventh. Coghlan's tumbling catch against Yelich brought the Wrigley Field crowd to its feet.
Former Cubs closer Hector Rondon picked off pinch-runner Dee Gordon from first in a scoreless eighth.
Chicago extended its NL Central lead to nine games over St. Louis.
ICHIRO UPDATE
Ichiro Suzuki struck out pinch-hitting for Fernandez in the seventh, leaving him at 2,998 hits. Suzuki is expected to start Wednesday's series finale against RHP John Lackey. Suzuki's 37 hits against Lackey are his most off any pitcher.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: 1B Justin Bour (ankle) went 0 for 3 for Triple-A New Orleans was expected to play one more minor league rehab game Wednesday before returning Friday at Colorado.
Cubs: Second-year slugger Kris Bryant wasn't in the lineup. "It didn't matter who was pitching today as long as he was right-handed," Maddon said. "I wanted to give him the day off."
IDEAL TRADE
Not only did new Cubs reliever Joe Smith go from the struggling Los Angeles Angels to a contender, he's now just a short flight or 4 1/2-hour drive from his ailing mother in Cincinnati. Lee Smith, 56, is battling Huntington's disease, an inherited, fatal disorder that causes cognitive and physical impairment.
"It's nice," Joe Smith said. "Traveling is hard and those flights take a lot out of her."
RHP Spencer Patton was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to make room for Smith, acquired Monday.
PHELPS ON FRIDAY
Marlins manager Don Mattingly said RHP David Phelps will move into the rotation and start Friday against the Rockies. He'll replace RHP Colin Rea, who was traded back to San Diego on Monday.
UP NEXT
Marlins RHP Tom Koehler (8-8, 4.18 ERA) returns from a pectoral injury and faces Lackey (8-7, 3.69) to close the season series.
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