One thing that can get a team back on track after a rough loss like the one Monday is to come back the next day and absolutely annihilate the opposition.
And that’s exactly what the Cubs did, with a 21-hit attack that matched their season high. From BCB’s JohnW53:
They had 21 at Sacramento on March 31 while beating the Athletics, 18-3, then 21 again at Los Angeles on April 12 while beating the Dodgers, 16-0. So, all three 21-hit games have been on the road.
Everyone in the starting lineup had at least one hit and run, and all but Carson Kelly drove in one as the Cubs demolished the Marlins 14-1, evening up the three-game series at one win each.
The Cubs got on the board first. With two out in the first inning, Kyle Tucker launched his 11th of the year [VIDEO].
About Tucker’s blast, from BCB’s JohnW53:
Kyle Tucker’s home run was just the Cubs’ fourth in the first inning this season. Opposing batters have hit 10 in the first.In all other innings, the Cubs have outhomered their opponents, 64-50.
Two innings later, Jameson Taillon was the victim of yet another homer, the league-leading 14th he’s allowed, by Nick Fortes. But it was a solo shot, and apart from that Taillon kept putting zeroes on the board with a low pitch count.
Ryan Weathers matched him through five, and then Weathers left the game for Calvin Faucher.
The Cubs offense exploded against Faucher. Seiya Suzuki walked, and Tucker and Kelly singled, loading the bases with nobody out.
Dansby Swanson gave the Cubs a 2-1 lead [VIDEO].
The bases remained loaded for Pete Crow-Armstrong [VIDEO].
It’s now 3-1 and the Cubs have gone station-to-station for five straight hitters. Nico Hoerner said, “Enough of that,” and hit a two-run single [VIDEO].
The Marlins challenged Swanson scoring on the play, but it was ruled “call confirmed” and the score was 5-1. PCA took third on Nico’s hit and scored on this sac fly by Justin Turner [VIDEO].
Next was Matt Shaw, who doubled for the second straight game, scoring Nico [VIDEO].
Ian Happ struck out for the second out of the inning, the first batter of the sixth who did not produce something with his turn at the plate.
Suzuki, batting for the second time in the inning, completed the sixth-inning scoring with this two-run homer [VIDEO].
About the Cubs’ eight-run sixth, from BCB’s JohnW53:
The eight runs in the sixth inning were the most by the Cubs in an inning this season.
They have had seven once; six, three times; five runs, nine times; four runs, 10 times; three runs, 18 times; and two runs, 27 times.
That adds up to 69 multi-run innings, compared to 64 with one run.
Meanwhile, Jamo continued to mow down Marlins hitters. He had one of his best starts of the year, seven innings, four hits, one run, 87 pitches, 57 strikes. More on Taillon’s outing [VIDEO].
Chris Flexen, appearing in a game for the first time in a week, set down the Marlins scoreless in the eighth. Then, since the game met the minimum qualification for a position player to pitch (an eight-run deficit), the Marlins sent Javier Sanoja out to throw the top of the ninth. That’s quite the comedown — from scoring the winning run for the Marlins in an exciting walkoff (for them, anyway) Monday, to being the mop-up pitcher Tuesday.
The Cubs teed off on Sanoja. Former Marlin Vidal Bruján batted for Swanson and flied to center, but PCA singled. Another former Marlin, Jon Berti, batted for Hoerner and also singled. Turner followed with another single — his third hit of the game! — loading the bases.
After Matt Shaw popped up, Happ came to the plate [VIDEO].
That made it 10-1 and the bases remained loaded with two out.
Suzuki’s third hit of the game brought in two more runs [VIDEO].
That left runners on second and third. Pinch-hitter Michael Busch doubled them both in [VIDEO].
Flexen finished up the game. He allowed a leadoff single to Eric Wagaman, but Wagaman was erased on a double play.
Flexen recorded six outs on just 22 pitches (16 strikes), and gave the rest of the pen the night off. In a pinch, he might even be available for Wednesday’s game, even if not, the rest of the relievers should be.
More on all the scoring, from BCB’s JohnW53:
This is the 28th game, of 48 total, in which the Cubs have scored at least five runs. They are 24-4 in those games, including 13-0 with eight or more.
The Cubs also scored in double figures for the 10th time this year, which leads all MLB teams. They did that 22 times all of last year and we’re not anywhere near the halfway mark of the 2025 season. Their run differential of +82 is the best among all NL teams and trails only the Yankees (+93). The win also put the Cubs back at a season-high nine games over .500 and with the Tigers defeating the Cardinals 5-4, the Cubs’ NL Central lead is back to two games.
And so:
Here are some postgame comments from Kyle Tucker [VIDEO].
One last note from JohnW53:
With this win, the Cubs still have not lost back-to-back games on the road this season. They were officially the home team for the two games in Tokyo. This was their 24th official road game. They are 14-10.
The Cubs will go for the series win in an afternoon finale. Cade Horton will start for the Cubs and Max Meyer goes for Miami. Game time is 12:10 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.
The BCB game preview for today’s game will post at 10 a.m. CT.