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Lowly Marlins Sweep Chicago

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By STEVEN WINE, The Associated Press

Published: September 28, 2007

MIAMI - Swept by lowly Florida, the Chicago Cubs shambled out of town Thursday with this consolation: If they make the playoffs, they won't have to face the Marlins again.

The problem is, Chicago may not make the playoffs.

Struggling to avert another Cubs collapse, the NL Central leaders stranded 10 runners and lost to the last-place Marlins for the third game in a row, 6-4.

'It was a waste of a plane flight,' Cubs closer Ryan Dempster said.

'You can look in their dugout, and it's just like panic mode,' said Florida's Cody Ross, who drove in a run with a pinch-hit double. 'They're pacing up and down. We would be in the same boat if the situation were reversed.'

The Cubs' magic number for clinching the division remained three. They close the regular season with a three-game series at Cincinnati beginning today.

Florida beat Chicago for the 10th straight game during the past two seasons. That's the longest active streak between major-league teams.

Following Wednesday's game, Cubs second baseman Mark DeRosa acknowledged his team might be pressing.

For much of the series, Florida played like the 2003 Marlins, who overtook the Cubs to win the NLCS en route to a World Series title.

And even when the Marlins tried to help the Cubs, it wasn't enough.

Florida led 5-1 before a throwing error by third baseman Miguel Cabrera in the sixth let Chicago back in the game. With the Marlins leading by a run, reliever Renyel Pinto came on to walk consecutive batters, loading the bases in the seventh, but Jacque Jones struck out to end the inning.

For the third straight game, Chicago failed to score on the Florida bullpen. Closer Kevin Gregg threw eight pitches in a perfect ninth for his 31st save in 35 chances.

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