The Miami Marlins are one game over .500 after pulling off their first sweep of 2012. Jeff Samardzija won his first two starts of the season for the struggling Chicago Cubs -- recording the win in two-thirds of Chicago's victories this year -- but he was less sharp on Wednesday than his previous starts. He gave up five earned in just over three innings as the Marlins won 5-3.
Miami got off to a terrific start, scoring two runs in the first inning. Logan Morrison drove in Emilio Bonifacio with a single, which was followed up by a Gianocarlo Stanton groundout that allowed Hanley Ramirez to score from third base to make it 2-0.
The Cubs answered back with a great second inning. With the bases loaded, Darwin Barney hit a triple to score three runs for the Cubs. Those would be their only runs of the night. After the second inning, starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco improved considerably, going 5.1 innings without giving up another run. He also helped his own cause in the third. Following a Greg Dobbs double that scored Ramirez and Morrison, Donnie Murphy grounded out and Brett Hayes was walked in order to get to Nolasco. The Marlins' starter singled to right center, scoring Dobbs to extend the lead to 5-3.
Starting in the middle of the sixth inning, the Marlins bullpen was flawless to the end, with none of the five pitchers used giving up a run or a walk. Heath Bell entered in the ninth inning and comfortably recorded his second save of the year with a one-two-three inning.
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