CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago Cubs broke out of their offensive slump in a big way.
Two powerful swings by Ian Happ played a key role.
Happ homered from both sides of the plate, and Chicago stopped a five-game slide by routing the Miami Marlins 14-2 on Monday night.
The Cubs collected 15 hits after scoring three or fewer runs in 10 of the previous 11 games. Kris Bryant and Javier Baez also connected, and Happ finished with five RBIs.
“It was nice to see Happy get going again,” manager Joe Maddon said. “KB had a nice day (and) Javy continues to drive in runs.”
Kyle Hendricks (3-2) also provided a lift by pitching eight innings of two-run ball. The Cubs dropped their previous two on game-ending hits in St. Louis, taxing their bullpen.
The only downer for Chicago was an early exit for Baez, who departed in the sixth with right groin tightness. Maddon said Baez was lifted because of the lopsided score and he doesn’t believe the injury is a concern.
Miami starter Jarlin Garcia (1-1), who entered with a major league-best 1.09 ERA, was rocked for seven runs and six hits in four innings. The 25-year-old left-hander allowed just two earned runs in 23 innings in his previous four starts.
“I had issues leaving the ball up in the zone when I wanted to go inside,” Garcia said. “I left it up, and not only up, I left it in the middle of the plate.”
Before Monday, the Cubs’ last 13 homers had been solo drives. Bryant stopped that streak with a two-run shot in the first.
Baez then made it 5-0 with a three-run drive to center in the third - one pitch after losing his balance on a hard swing and miss.
Happ added a two-run shot in the fourth. Batting from the left side in the seventh, he belted a three-run drive to left against Tyler Cloyd.
Bryant finished with three hits and scored three times, and Addison Russell had two hits and two RBIs.
“I think sometimes you just have those nights,” Happ said. “No BP today. Everybody got their work done in the cage and just went and played. That’s how we grew up playing. It’s pretty natural.”
Cameron Maybin had two hits and drove in a run for Miami, which had won six of eight.
SWITCH HOMERING
Happ was delighted to homer from both sides of the plate for the first time in the majors, but quickly got a reality check from hitting coach Chili Davis.
“Chili actually told me he did it 12 times in his career,” Happ said. “This was my first time, so I have a little bit of a ways to go.”
ROSTER MOVES
The Cubs placed struggling right-hander Yu Darvish on the 10-day disabled list with the flu. The 31-year-old Darvish is 0-3 with a 6.00 ERA in his first season with Chicago after finalizing a $126 million, six-year contract in February.
“He’s fine; he’s just ill,” Maddon said.
Darvish was scheduled to start Tuesday night against Miami, but the Cubs provided no word on a replacement.
“We’re still working on how we’re gonna do that,” Maddon said. “It could be somewhat of a bullpen day.”
The Cubs also recalled right-hander Cory Mazzoni from Triple-A Iowa and optioned reliever Luke Farrell to their top farm club. Mazzoni worked the ninth against the Marlins.
The DL stint for Darvish was made retroactive to Friday. The team said it will announce a corresponding move on Tuesday.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Marlins: RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (forearm strain) threw 30 pitches in two innings in extended spring training.
UP NEXT
Miami RHP Jose Urena (0-5, 4.28 ERA) pitches the second game of the series Tuesday night. Urena was the Marlins’ opening-day starter against the Cubs in Miami on March 29, allowing five runs in four innings.
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