Pete Crow-Armstrong hit an inside-the-park home run, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 6-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night. Ian Happ and Miguel Amaya also homered for the Cubs (64-65), who started a nine-game road trip.
Crow-Armstrong’s 14.08-second sprint from home to home is the fastest in the major leagues since Byron Buxton’s 13.85 seconds on August 18, 2017, as a Minnesota Twin.
“You never really have control over what happens after a moment like that, especially me. I’m kind of quick to react,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I’m just glad I made it home safe.”
Isaac Paredes’ run-scoring double against Marlins reliever Brett de Geus (0-2) in the eighth inning broke a 3-3 tie. Amaya then hit a two-run homer off Kent Emanuel in the ninth.
Porter Hodge (2-1) pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief for the win, and Jorge López closed out the game for his fourth save.
Cubs relievers recorded the final 13 outs and held the Marlins to just one hit. López has given up only one run in nine appearances this month.
“Just a good win, the bullpen did a heck of a job,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “We got some big hits from the bottom of the lineup again. It’s a great way to start the road trip.”
The Marlins fell to an NL-worst 46-82 and are set to finish with their 24th losing season in the franchise’s 32-year history.
Miami pulled Kyle Hendricks from the game after Kyle Stowers walked with the bases loaded to tie the game 3-3 in the fifth inning.
Happ’s two-run homer highlighted a three-run third inning that put the Cubs ahead 3-1. He hit a slider from Marlins starter Max Meyer over the center field wall for his 23rd homer of the season.
Earlier in the third inning, Crow-Armstrong evened the score with his sprint around the bases. His hit reached the warning track, went past right fielder Jesús Sánchez, and bounced toward right-center.
Center fielder Derek Hill picked it up and threw it to second baseman Otto López, but Crow-Armstrong slid in head-first to beat the throw to the plate.
“When I saw the ball kick, I put my head down and started running,” Crow-Armstrong said. “At that point the ball’s already behind me.”
Jonah Bride’s RBI single in the third inning made it 3-2 for Miami.
The 25-year-old Meyer pitched six innings, giving up three runs and six hits. He walked two and struck out two. Miami manager Skip Schumaker praised Meyer, the third overall pick in the 2020 draft, for using his change-up more against Chicago.
“We want him to throw that more in general,” Schumaker said. “We think it can be a real weapon. I’m proud of him for throwing it with confidence. It’s only going to get better.
He needs something a little bit slower to get guys off his fastball and slider.” Hendricks allowed three runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.
“It was a grind today to be honest,” Hendricks said. “I’m just glad I stayed with it mentally. Grinded it out and kept the guys in the game.”
Miami shortstop Xavier Edwards left the game after the second inning due to lower back pain. Edwards had singled and stolen second base in the first inning and played in the second inning but was replaced by Vidal Brujan in the third.
Schumaker said Edwards felt discomfort after the stolen base and will have an imaging test on Saturday.
