Cody Bellinger and Alexander Canario homered and Michael Busch delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth to help the Chicago Cubs to a 5-3 win against the visiting Miami Marlins to earn a split of the doubleheader on Saturday night.
Cubs rookie left-hander Shota Imanaga (3-0) allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits in six innings. He struck out five with no walks.
Imanaga did not allow an earned run in his first three MLB starts and extended his scoreless streak to 18 2/3 innings before the Marlins pushed across two runs (one earned) in the fourth.
Ben Brown fired two innings of scoreless relief before Hector Neris pitched the ninth for his first save of the season.
Marlins starter Roddery Munoz was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville to serve as the 27th man for the doubleheader, and the only two hits he allowed over five-plus innings were solo shots by Bellinger and Canario. He struck out seven and walked one.
Josh Bell homered for Miami, which won the first game of the doubleheader 3-2 after Chicago won the series opener 8-3 on Friday.
Bellinger was the second batter Munoz faced, and he lifted a changeup over the fence in right for a 1-0 lead. After walking the next batter, Munoz retired the next 14 in a row.
Nico Hoerner moved from second base to shortstop for the second time this season, and his fielding error allowed Bell to reach first with one out in the fourth.
Tim Anderson then doubled into the left-field corner, scoring Bell on a headfirst slide to tie it 1-1.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. then grounded a 1-2 pitch up the middle to score Anderson and move the Marlins ahead 2-1. It also marked the first earned run allowed by Imanaga.
Bell took Imanaga deep from the right side with one out in the sixth to stretch the lead to 3-1.
Canario hit the first pitch of the bottom of the sixth deep over the fence in left to cut the deficit to 3-2 and end Munoz’s night.
Anthony Bender (0-1) entered and surrendered singles to two of the first three hitters, who both moved up on a wild pitch. Busch then lined a two-run single into left-center field to give Chicago a 4-3 lead.
Garrett Cooper followed with a line drive that short-hopped Anderson at short and caromed into shallow left, allowing Busch to score for a 5-3 lead.
–Field Level Media
