Marlins Sweep Cubs With 5-3 Victory
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Miami Marlins finished off the sweep of a woeful Chicago Cubs team Thursday afternoon with a 5-3 victory. It marked the Marlins' first three-game sweep of the young 2012 season.
The Marlins victory came thanks to the bat of Greg Dobbs, who was filling in for normal first baseman Gaby Sanchez. Dobbs hit a screamer down the third base line to push the Marlins ahead 5-3 and the Cubs never came close again.
Marlins pitcher Ricky Nolasco gave up three runs in 5.1 innings, but gave it enough to earn the victory. It was Nolasco's second victory on the season. After Nolasco left, five relieves combined to throw 3.2 perfect innings.
For the second time in as many days, Marlins closer Heath Bell came into the game in the ninth to seal up the victory. Its Bell's second straight save after blowing his first two chances of the season.
Given that it was against the Cubs, it's tough to measure just how well the Marlins are playing at this point in the season. But after wondering when the Marlins' bats would wake up, they finally came alive during the current home stand.
In Thursday afternoon's victory, Hanley Ramirez continued tearing it up by getting two more hits to bring his average closer to .300 on the season. Emilio Bonifacio was 1-4 and Logan Morrison contributed two hits to give the middle of the order a real punch.
Bonifacio is leading the team in hitting and making a strong case to move to the leadoff position in the batting order. He's also leading the team with seven stolen bases on the year.
The win also pulled the Marlins record to 7-6 on the season and keeps them just behind Atlanta and New York in the National League East.
