Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Anthony Rizzo launched a game-winning, two-run homer in the bottom of the 13th inning to send the Chicago Cubs to a 5-3 victory over the Miami Marlins in the opener of a three-game set Friday at Wrigley Field.
After striking out the final two hitters in the 12th, Kevin Slowey (1-1) returned to the mound for the 13th, but served up a leadoff single to Junior Lake before Rizzo scorched a first-pitch curveball over the wall in right.
"I had a pretty good idea that Rizzo was going to be aggressive and wasn't able to get the ball where I needed to get it and he put a good swing on it," Slowey said of giving up Rizzo's game-winning homer.
Rizzo finished with four RBI, while Chris Coghlan collected two hits and an RBI for the Cubs, who have won a season-high four straight games.
"They're playing with a lot of confidence right now," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said of his club. "I think they're continuing to pick each other up. I think they're starting to feel and know that they can do this."
Carlos Villanueva (2-5) picked up the victory after striking out three over two flawless innings of relief work.
Garrett Jones smacked three hits and scored once, while Reed Johnson stroked a two-run, pinch-hit single to tie the game in the ninth for the Marlins, who had a four-game win streak halted.
Both starters performed well despite not factoring in the decision, as Chicago's Jason Hammel struck out eight over seven scoreless innings, while Miami's Nathan Eovaldi retired the first 14 hitters he faced in order.
Nate Schierholtz ended Eovaldi's bid at a perfect game with a two-out single to center in the fifth and Coghlan followed with an RBI double to right to get the Cubs on the board.
Chicago added a pair of key insurance runs in the eighth, as pinch-hitter Justin Ruggiano ripped a one-out double before Emilio Bonifacio smacked an infield single off the glove of Eovaldi.
After Lake's fielder's choice groundout left runners on the corners with two away, Rizzo ripped a double to left, clearing the bases for a 3-0 lead.
Miami rallied against Chicago closer Hector Rondon in the ninth after Casey McGehee and Jones started the frame with back-to-back singles. Rondon responded by striking out Marcell Ozuna, but Adeiny Hechavarria got a fly ball to drop in shallow right field to load the bases.
Pinch-hitter Jeff Bour followed with a bouncer to first baseman Rizzo, who flipped to Rondon covering the bag. Bour was originally ruled safe after Rondon's foot appeared to slip off the bag before he caught the toss, but the Cubs challenged the ruling and the call was overturned following video review.
Johnson, hitting in place of reliever Bryan Morris, then ripped Rondon's next offering into right-center field to plate both runners and tie the game.
Miami had a chance to end it in the 11th after Ozuna singled, moved to second on a bunt, and found third on a groundout, but Brian Schlitter induced a groundout from pinch-hitter Jeff Baker to keep the contest tied.
Game Notes
Schierholtz's single in the fifth was his 500th career hit ... Chicago has won seven of its last eight home games ... The Cubs improved to 2-6 in extra innings this season, while Miami dropped to 3-4 ... The Marlins went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base ... Eovaldi allowed three runs on six hits with eight strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings ... Chicago
came into the game 22-2 when leading entering the ninth inning this season.