Heyward homer gives Cubs 3-2 win in 11th in Russell’s return
CHICAGO (AP) — For the second straight night, the surging Chicago Cubs walked off with a victory.
Jason Heyward homered leading off the 11th inning to lift Chicago over the Miami Marlins 3-2 Wednesday in Addison Russell's return to the majors.
Heyward lined a 1-2 pitch from Jose Quijada into the basket in left field, helping Chicago bounce back after blowing a 2-1 lead in the ninth. Carl Edwards Jr. (1-1), recalled from the minors Monday, pitched a perfect 11th with two strikeouts to get the win.
"It's just good to win," said Heyward, whose sixth homer went to the opposite field. "You've got to take care of business."
Kris Bryant hit a three-run drive in the ninth Tuesday in a 5-2 win. The Cubs have won nine of 10.
Kyle Hendricks allowed an unearned run and five hits over eight innings. Javier Baez drove in a run, and Anthony Rizzo had two hits and sparkling fielding plays on two bunts for Chicago.
"It's never easy. No team. No day," Hendricks said. "(The walk-off) homer adds some more emotion to it, and we're just trying to ride it right now."
Miami's Miguel Rojas tied it at 2 when he drove in Neil Walker from third on a groundout against Steve Cishek. Walker singled off Kyle Ryan to lead off the inning.
The Cubs recalled Russell from Triple-A Iowa after he completed a 40-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy and spent extra time in the minors to get ready. Chicago started Russell at second base and in the eighth spot in the batting order. He went 0 for 3 with a walk.
"He looked really good in the field, defensively real smooth," manager Joe Maddon said. "I thought at the plate he was a little bit off."
Russell was eligible to rejoin the team May 3, but the Cubs had planned to recall him next week. Chicago moved that up after infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist went on the restricted list Wednesday to take an indefinite leave for undisclosed personal matters. Infielder Daniel Descalso remains limited to pinch hitting because of a sore left ankle.
Russell received a mix of polite applause and discernable boos from the Wrigley Field crowd when he walked to the plate in the third. The boos picked up after Russell struck out swinging.
Hendricks struck out seven and walked none coming off a complete game shutout last Friday against St. Louis. The right-hander retired the last eight hitters he faced.
Starlin Castro had three hits and had an RBI. Jose Ureña allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits through seven innings.
The major league-worst Marlins have lost 9 of 11, despite getting a second straight solid performance from a starter and a solid bullpen effort.
"(Ureña) was really good," manager Don Mattingly said. "Threw the ball good all night, ends up going seven."
The Marlins took a 1-0 lead in the first on an unearned run, although Hendricks was responsible for the putting the runner on base. Hendricks fielded leadoff man Curtis Granderson's dribbler but threw high to first for an error. Granderson advanced to third on a single and groundout, then came home on Castro's single.
BANNED FAN
The Cubs banned indefinitely a fan who used what appeared to be a racist hand gesture behind an African American television reporter who was on the air at Wrigley Field.
The bearded fan flashed the offensive sign in back of former Cubs outfielder Doug Glanville during Tuesday night's game against Miami. The Cubs sent him a letter informing him of their decision after they were unable to reach him by phone. The fan could be prosecuted for criminal trespass if he tries to enter the ballpark.
WALKING AWAY
The Cubs have won consecutive games with walk-off homers for the first time since Sept. 12-13, 1998 versus Milwaukee.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: RHP Drew Steckenrider was placed on the 10-day IL with right elbow inflammation. He became sore after pitching one inning on Monday and will be examined in Miami on Thursday. ... LHP Quijada was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans.
Cubs: Placed closer RHP Pedro Strop on the 10-day IL retroactive to May 7 with a left hamstring strain and activated LHP Mike Montgomery (lat strain) off of the 10-day IL. Strop walked three and allowed three runs in the ninth Monday, blowing a save in a 6-5 loss to Miami. Manager Joe Maddon said he'd user a closer-by-committee approach while Strop is out.
UP NEXT
Miami LHP Trevor Richards (0-4, 4.10) faces Chicago LHP Yu Darvish (2-3, 5.79) in the series finale on Thursday.
