CHICAGO — The late adjustment to the pitching plans by the Marlins forced the Cubs to rethink their lineup on Saturday afternoon. In shuffling things around, manager David Ross opted to give Nick Madrigal the nod at third base.
That decision paid off in the eighth inning, when Madrigal delivered a two-run single that helped the Cubs capitalize on an error-filled frame en route to a 4-2 win at Wrigley Field.
Miami lefty A.J. Puk — the sixth of seven pitchers used by the visitors — took the mound in the eighth with a 2-1 lead. Heading into the day, the Marlins were 10-0 on the young season in one-run contests. This one unraveled swiftly in favor of Chicago.
Cody Bellinger reached with a leadoff single, which glanced off the glove of Puk, whose rushed throw was not handled cleanly by first baseman Yuli Gurriel. Trey Mancini then pulled off a fluky double when right fielder Peyton Burdick lost a fly ball in the sun.
Two batters later, Madrigal — the starter at third over slugger Patrick Wisdom — sent a first-pitch heater from Puk into center for a go-ahead single. Rookie Miguel Amaya then collected his first career hit (an RBI single) with a chopper up the middle that Miami’s infield could not corral cleanly.
