Cubs’ Theriot stuns Marlins
Ryan Theriot so enjoyed his first career grand slam that he’d like to show off his power a little more often.
Theriot, a slap-hitting shortstop who specializes in opposite-field singles, took manager Lou Piniella’s advice to pull the ball when there are men on base. The result: He helped the Chicago Cubs rally for an 8-6 victory over the Florida Marlins Friday.
His two-out shot off of Burke Badenhop that landed in the second row of the left-field bleachers, gave the Cubs a 6-5 lead and quickly changed the mood at Wrigley Field from angry to giddy.
The Cubs had lost seven of their previous nine games and fans had spent much of the day booing starter Rich Harden and slumping hitters like $30 million newcomer Milton Bradley.
Harden allowed five runs and six hits with four walks in 3 2/3 innings. Three of his walks came in the fourth, when he also forced in a run by hitting Jorge Cantu with a pitch to put the Cubs behind 5-1.
It appeared Graham Taylor might be the first Marlins starter in two weeks to earn a victory when he turned a 5-2 lead over to his bullpen to begin the sixth.
Hayden Penn issued a one-out walk to Aaron Miles and gave up a single to Mike Fontenot before leaving with a sprained ankle. Badenhop (1-1) walked Alfonso Soriano with two outs to load the bases, setting the stage for Theriot.
The Cubs made it 8-5 in the seventh on Geovany Soto’s RBI single and Fontenot’s sacrifice fly. Soto, Derek Lee and Reed Johnson had two hits each; they entered the game in a combined 0-for-30 slump.