Bryant hits 2 HRs, including grand slam, to lead Cubs over Marlins
Kris Bryant wasn't looking to go deep when he came up in the second inning Saturday night.
"You know, bases loaded, not trying to do too much," Bryant said.
He wanted to keep a rally going. Instead he broke the game open with a grand slam.
Bryant hit two early homers and drove in six runs to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 7-2 victory over the Miami Marlins.
The multihomer game was the second for Bryant, who hit a two-run drive in the first inning and chased Marlins starter Jarred Cosart (1-4) with the grand slam in the second that made it 7-0.
"It was pretty much (Bryant), that was our offense," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "He was definitely ready in the opening part of the game."
Bryant's grand slam barely cleared the wall, but his first homer nearly left the park, landing in the top row of the bleachers in left. He became the first Cubs player to hit two grand slams in his rookie season since Hall of Famer Billy Williams in 1961.
Cosart, who gave up seven runs, four hits and three walks in just 1 2/3 innings, was making his first start after a month off to recover from vertigo. He was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans after the game.
"There's no excuses," Cosart said. "It's a performance-based industry and I didn't perform well today. I've got to get back at it and get ready for my next start."
Cubs starter Clayton Richard (1-0) sailed into the seventh inning in his first major-league outing since 2013, pitching Chicago to its fourth victory in five games. Acquired from Pittsburgh in a trade Friday, he gave up two runs and eight hits with one walk in 6 1/3 innings.
GRATEFUL FOR EXPERIENCE
Maddon gave Friday's Grateful Dead concert at Soldier Field a strong review.
"To have that kind of energy to play that long, they were really good," said Maddon, who watched from a suite with Jon Lester and "some of the other guys."
Maddon recalled throwing batting practice years ago to Bruce Hornsby, who's sitting in on piano and keyboards with the band, years ago when he was on the Los Angeles Angels' coaching staff. And he invited Hornsby to take some swings at Wrigley Field.
"He used to hang out with some of the Angels," Maddon said. "So Bruce, if you're watching this, come on out and take some BP here."
CUBS COACH OK AFTER GETTING HIT
There was a scary moment in the seventh inning when a hard foul ball by Addison Russell hit Cubs third-base coach Gary Jones in the elbow. Jones stayed down in foul territory and did not appear to move for a few minutes, but eventually got up and remained in the game.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: The team said it will reinstate 1B Michael Morse from the DL before Sunday's game. He was placed on the 15-day DL on May 26 because of a sprained right ring finger and he tweaked his back during rehabilitation.
Cubs: Maddon said OF Jorge Soler (left ankle) could be back "very, very soon" from a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa. ... The Cubs placed C David Ross on the 7-day concussion DL. The move is retroactive to Thursday. ... INF Tommy La Stella was transferred to the 60-day DL from the 15-day DL.
UP NEXT
Chicago's Kyle Hendricks (3-4, 4.15 ERA) and Miami's Mat Latos (3-5, 5.27) both look to win their second straight start as the Cubs and Marlins wrap up their weekend series Sunday. Hendricks pitched three-hit ball over six innings in a 1-0 win over the New York Mets on Tuesday. Latos is coming off a win over San Francisco.
