Morning Box Score: Fish Sink Cubs in Extra Innings

By Matt Motyka in News on May 1, 2009 3:00PM

The Chicago Cubs again struggled to generate runs in their 8-2, 10-inning loss to the Florida Marlins on Thursday. The only offensive highlight for Chicago came in the fifth, when Milton Bradley and Mike Fontenot hit back-to-back homers to put the Cubs on top 2-0. Cubs starter Sean Marshall, who allowed only four base-knocks through six frames, hit a bump in the seventh when he surrendered a solo shot to Jorge Cantu. Having exceeded 100 pitches, Marshall was lifted in the eighth in favor of reliever Carlos Marmol. Marmol walked the first two batters of the inning, and then committed a throwing error on a bunt attempt by Cameron Maybin, allowing Ross Gload to come home and tie the score at two apiece. Kevin Gregg went three-up and three-down in the top of the ninth, and in the bottom half the Cubs left Ryan Theriot in scoring position to necessitate extra innings. The Marlins made quick work of Aaron Heilman in the tenth, scoring six runs on three hits and two walks before an out was recorded. That was far more than Chicago could overcome, as they finished the opening month of the season one game under .500. The Cubs take the field today at 1:20 behind righty Rich Harden, hoping to shake those April showers.