Miami Marlins manager Mike Redmond remembered the struggles Tom Koehler had in his last start.
After watching Miami put up three runs in the fifth inning Tuesday night against the Chicago Cubs, Redmond was concerned when Koehler gave up a leadoff homer and then loaded the bases. Redmond didn't want to watch a repeat performance of what happened against the Nationals on Aug. 29.
"I know in Washington he had that really bad inning the second time through the order," Redmond said. "After we scored he gave up that home run and then he got a little dicey in the strike zone. I just felt like that was the time to get him out of there. Hopefully try to save the game."
It worked as the Marlins' bullpen combined for 4 2/3 hitless innings in a 6-2 win over the Cubs.
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Koehler was tagged for six runs in five innings against the Nationals on Aug. 29.
"It's disappointing when your team puts up three runs like that. You want to get them back in the dugout as soon as possible. You give up the leadoff home run, things like that are going to happen, but I got to be able to shut them down," Koehler said. "I don't know if it was a combination of trying to do a little too much or with them being a little more patient. It is one of those innings that can't happen. I just got to learn from it."
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Donovan Solano had three hits, including a two-run double, and Christian Yelich drove in three runs with a double and single for the Marlins, who have won three straight after losing six in a row.
Brian Bogusevic hit a solo homer for the Cubs who dropped to 27-44 at the so-called Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field.
Koehler pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and four hits. The Miami bullpen retired the next 11 batters after he left with the bases loaded. Ryan Webb (2-5) pitched two perfect innings for the win.
Edwin Jackson (7-15) only made it through five innings for Chicago, allowing three runs and seven hits. Since pitching a season-high eight innings while beating Milwaukee 6-1 on July 31, Jackson is 0-4, allowing 22 runs over 33 2/3 innings in six starts. The righthander matched his career-high in losses for a season. He was 5-15 for the Rays in 2007. He is 1-7 lifetime against the Marlins.
"It's definitely been a disappointing season. But every lesson is a lesson learned. You either accept it and be complacent with it or you find ways to keep working harder and get ready to bounce back," Jackson said. "I have three more years here, hopefully. When you have seasons like this, it definitely makes you look forward to coming back and bouncing back for the next three years."
Koehler led off the fifth inning with a single and scored on Yelich's double. Giancarlo Stanton followed with an RBI single and Jackson couldn't get help from shortstop Starlin Castro, who committed his 17th error of the season after mishandling Justin Ruggiano's routine grounder. Yelich scored on the play to give the Marlins a 3-0 lead.
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Bogusevic got a run back for the Cubs in the fifth with his third homer of the season. Koehler loaded the bases with one out and was pulled for Dan Jennings, who allowed a sacrifice fly to Anthony Rizzo.
Miami broke it open with a three-run eighth. Solano hit a two-run double off reliever Blaker Parker and Yelich followed with an RBI single.
"He's done a nice job and he just continues to get more and more confident day in and day out," Redmond said of Yelich. "They're bringing in a lot of lefties against him but he's been having good at-bats. I think you're starting to see the results of him facing those lefties. He's starting to get some hits now, but he gives us a great at-bat every time. He's a great young player and he is going to be a great player in the big leagues for a long time."
In the third inning, Koehler took a liner by Castro off his right shin knocking him to the ground. The ball ricocheted to third baseman Chris Coghlan, who was able to throw out Castro at first. After a few warm-up tosses, Koehler stayed in the game. With runners on first and third and two outs, Coghlan made a diving stop on Rizzo's ball and threw to second for the force.
NOTES: The Marlins recalled LHP Brad Hand, RHP Arquimedes Caminero and C Rob Brantly from Triple-A New Orleans and selected the contract of LHP Brian Flynn from New Orleans. 1B Jordan Brown was designated for assignment to make room for Flynn on the 40-man roster. ... The Cubs recalled RHP Justin Grimm, LHP Brooks Raley and C J.C. Boscan from Triple-A Iowa and selected the contract of LHP Zach Rosscup from Iowa. Rosscup got two outs in the sixth. OF Dave Sappelt was designated for assignment to make room for Rosscup on the 40-man roster.
