On Friday, Skip Schumaker called for “cleaner baseball” from his team. On Saturday, the Miami Marlins responded with one of their dirtiest innings of the season, blowing a late lead to the Chicago Cubs in the process and suffering their fifth straight loss.
The day began on a curious note when Schumaker scratched plans to have Bryan Hoeing start to the game, instead opting for “opener” Matt Barnes.
Barnes had a 1-0 lead before even taking the mound thanks to a Marlins rally in the top of the first against Drew Smyly. Bryan De La Cruz worked a long plate appearance against the journeyman left-hander and put the Fish in front with an RBI single.