It was quite a turnaround for a team that finished with three runs or less in 10 of 11 games prior to this series.
CHICAGO (AP) — Kris Bryant hit his 100th career homer, Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell connected in an eight-run third inning, and the Chicago Cubs pounded the Miami Marlins 13-4 on Wednesday.
Rizzo also had a pair of doubles and finished with five RBIs as the Cubs outscored the Marlins 31-9 in a three-game sweep after dropping a season-high five in a row.
It was quite a turnaround for a team that finished with three runs or less in 10 of 11 games prior to this series.
Bryant hit a drive about halfway up the bleachers in left-center in the first inning for his third homer in four games, and he added an RBI double to deep center in the third.
Chicago poured it on from there, scoring seven more runs in the inning against Wei-Yin Chen to go up 9-0 while sending 11 batters to the plate.
Rizzo, Russell, Albert Almora and Willson Contreras each had three of Chicago’s 17 hits.
Jose Quintana (4-2) returned the favor after getting hit hard in a loss at Miami on April 1. The left-hander allowed one run and five hits in six innings.
Rizzo hit a three-run homer to right in the third and added RBI doubles in the fourth and sixth.
Russell led off the third with a double and scored, then capped the inning with a two-run shot.
Chen (1-2) got tagged for nine runs and seven hits over three innings in his third start back from a strained left elbow. His ERA leaped from 4.82 to 10.22.
Miguel Rojas hit a two-run homer for Miami in the seventh, and Bryan Holaday added solo drive in the ninth.
The Cubs optioned RHP Jen-Ho Tseng and LHP Rob Zastryzny to Triple-A Iowa one day after recalling them. Chicago also selected RHP Justin Hancock’s contract from the minor league club and recalled OF Mark Zagunis.
Marlins: RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (strained right forearm) — sidelined since April 20 — will throw a simulated game at the Marlins’ spring training facility in Jupiter, Florida., on Friday.
Manager Don Mattingly said he will likely go on a rehab assignment before returning from the disabled list.
The Marlins have no timetable on LHP Chris O’Grady’s return from a strained left shoulder. He has been out since April 16.
Cubs: 2B Javier Baez was back in the lineup after coming off the bench on Monday because of a tight right groin.
Marlins: LHP Caleb Smith (2-3,3.67 ERA) looks to win his third straight start as the Marlins open a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves. Smith is coming off back-to-back scoreless outings against Colorado and Cincinnati in which he allowed just five hits over 122/3 innings. RHP Mike Foltynewicz (2-2,3.65) starts for Atlanta.
Cubs: The Cubs open a three-game series Friday against the crosstown White Sox, with RHP Tyler Chatwood (2-3,3.31) going against RHP Carson Fulmer (2-2,5.02).
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