Cubs 4, Marlins 3
MIAMI -- Luis Valbuena blasted a solo home run with two outs in the ninth inning, helping the Chicago Cubs rally past the Miami Marlins 4-3 at Marlins Park on Thursday night.
Valbuena hit the first pitch he saw from Marlins closer Steve Cishek (1-3) into the Miami bullpen in right field.
Carlos Marmol pitched around a walk and a single to earn his second save of the season, striking out Giancarlo Stanton for the final out. Shawn Camp (1-1) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the win.
Marlins starter Kevin Slowey was handed a 3-1 lead in the second, but little by little the Cubs -- who came in hitting a major league worst .140 with runners in scoring position, including .103 (4-for-39) during their 1-5 road trip -- chipped away and ruined Slowey's bid for his first major league win since 2010.
Nate Schierholtz played the role of spoiler. He doubled and scored in the fourth on Welington Castillo's double to left, then blasted a 345-foot, solo home run off the right field foul pole in the sixth to tie the score at 3.
Slowey allowed three runs in six innings.
Entering 1-6 with a 6.69 ERA against Miami in his career, Cubs starter Edwin Jackson continued his struggles against the Marlins early. He gave up four hits, three walks and threw 49 pitches over the first two innings over the first two innings.
He recovered nicely, though, earning a no-decision by giving up just one hit over his next four innings. Jackson's final pitching line: six innings, five hits, three earned runs, four walks and four strikeouts.
NOTES: After being scratched from his Wednesday rehab start with Double-A Tennessee because of what the Cubs called a "dead arm," right-hander Matt Garza is scheduled to play long-toss Friday. The scratch was a setback in Garza's return from a strained left lat that has sidelined him since February. ... Miami catcher Jeff Mathis -- out since early in spring training with a fractured right clavicle -- is hoping to participate in his first rehab assignment on Wednesday, Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. ... The Marlins claimed 27-year-old left-hander Duane Below off waivers from the Detroit Tigers and optioned him to Triple-A New Orleans. Below threw 46 1/3 innings in 27 games with one start for the Tigers last year. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder was 1-2 with a 2.10 ERA in four starts at Triple-A this season. In 25 2/3 innings, he has 15 strikeouts and four walks.