First inning troubles doom the Marlins as they fall to the Cubs 7-2

MIAMI (AP) — Willson Contreras hit his sixth homer, drove in three and reached base four times, and the Chicago Cubs thawed out to beat the Miami Marlins 7-2 Monday night.

The temperature in Chicago was 33 when the Cubs’ game Sunday against the Angels was snowed out, and it was 84 with the retractable roof open for the first pitch at Marlins Park.

Yu Darvish (1-2) struck out eight in a season-high 5 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs, lowering his ERA to 6.11. Three relievers completed the six-hitter.

Contreras walked to force in a run in the first, homered in the seventh and added an RBI single in the ninth. David Bote also drove in three.

The Cubs scored one run thanks to a replay reversal. Contreras was ruled out sliding into second on a two-out bases-loaded grounder to short in the fifth, but a review determined he beat the throw, allowing the runner on third to score and make it 5-2.

Chicago scored three times in the first, and Javier Baez drove in a run with a two-out bloop double in the fifth off Trevor Richards (0-2), who allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Miami backup catcher Chad Wallach homered in the fourth for his first RBI of the year.

The Marlins (4-13) have totaled five runs in their past six losses. The top four batters in their lineup finished the night with averages of .152, .213, .221 and .231.

HITTING CONTEST

The Cubs’ Kris Bryant was twice hit by a pitch, and Contreras was hit once. Darvish then hit Lewis Brinson in the groin area with a 99 mph fastball.

Brinson left the game at the end of the inning. No warnings were issued.

DEFENSIVE BATTLE

Each center fielder contributed a web gem. The Cubs’ Albert Almora Jr. robbed Curtis Granderson in the first when he made a running, lunging catch at the edge of the warning track and then slid into the wall. Brinson was near the same spot when he made a leaping catch of Ben Zobrist‘s fly in the fifth.

THE SPIN ON CHEN

The Marlins remain optimistic left-hander Wei-Yin Chen can contribute this season, despite an ERA of 18.00 through five relief appearances. Chen has the team’s highest salary at $20 million. He pitched two innings of one-run ball Monday.

“He has been a successful pitcher in the major leagues,” president of baseball operations Michael Hill said before the game. “We know he can help us win games. Our job is to get him straight and get the ship righted.”

FAVORABLE REVIEW

Taking his first look this year at Marlins Park, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Derek Jeter’s influence as Marlins CEO is evident in the offseason outfield makeover, including walls that are now dark blue instead of lime green.

“They’re more Yankee Stadium kind of colors, right?” Maddon said. “Very tasty.”