Corey Dickerson homers as Marlins beat Cubs in playoff opener

 CHICAGO — The Miami Marlins just kept fighting. When Kyle Hendricks finally stumbled, they pounced.

This group of Marlins is one resilient bunch of fish.

Corey Dickerson hit a three-run homer off a fading Hendricks in the seventh inning, and Miami beat the Chicago Cubs 5-1 on Wednesday in Game 1 of their NL wild-card series.

Jesus Aguilar also homered and Sandy Alcantara pitched three-hit ball into the seventh as Miami conjured up memories of past playoff magic in the franchise’s first post-season game since it won the World Series in 2003. The Marlins, who rallied past the Cubs in a memorable NLCS that year, have never lost a playoff series.

This year’s Marlins weren’t supposed to make the playoffs, not after losing 105 games in 2019 and dealing with a coronavirus outbreak early this season. Dickerson said all the adversity helped turn them into a better team.

"We don’t care about who’s the hero," he said. "We want to pass the bat to the next guy. … We don’t care. We want to cheer for one another, play for one another. That’s what makes this game fun."

Game 2 of the best-of-three series is Thursday. Yu Darvish starts for the Central champion Cubs, and rookie right-hander Sixto Sanchez get the ball for upstart Miami.

"We’ve got to come in tomorrow and find a way. That’s it," Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said.

The Marlins could be without centre fielder Starling Marte after he was hit on the left hand by a fastball in the ninth inning. The team said he had a left hand contusion and was going for X-rays.

Marte got the start after he was hit on the front of his helmet by a fastball during Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Yankees.

"He’s been like a target almost," manager Don Mattingly said. "But he’s been bouncing back from everything else so hopefully we get good results with everything and we’ll see where he’s at."

Miami was 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position before Dickerson drove Hendricks’ 106th pitch just over the wall in left-centre for his first career playoff homer, erasing the Cubs’ 1-0 lead on a cool, blustery afternoon.

After Hendricks was pulled by first-year manager David Ross, Marte singled and Aguilar hit a drive to right off Jeremy Jeffress for his third playoff homer.

"I’ve been feeling so strong at the end of games," Hendricks said. "I was making good pitches and I made good pitches to Dickerson all day long. That’s wasn’t a bad pitch. He just jumped on it."

The last time the Marlins scored five or more runs in an inning during a playoff game was Oct. 14, 2003, at Wrigley Field, when the club scored eight times in the eighth during Game 6 of the NLCS. That outburst included fan Steve Bartman deflecting Luis Castillo’s foul ball as Cubs left fielder Moises Alou tried to make a leaping catch.

There was only a smattering of onlookers — primarily fans and team employees — Wednesday because of baseball’s COVID-19 protocols, and the lower bowl that surrounds the field was almost completely empty.

Hendricks (0-1) matched a season high with 106 pitches in his first start in a week. Known for his pinpoint control, the right-hander issued a season-high three walks and hit a batter. He had permitted just two hits before the Marlins chased him with three in a row in the seventh, culminating in Dickerson’s one-out homer.

"It’s tough. The guy pitched really good and that was going to be his last batter regardless," Ross said. "That’s a a tough pull, but you know, it stinks."

Alcantara (1-0) struck out four and walked three in 6 2/3 innings in his first career playoff start.

Chicago got its only run on Ian Happ’s two-out drive in the fifth for his first post-season homer. Happ had two of the Cubs’ four hits.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: RHP Jose Urena was placed on the team’s taxi squad. Urena broke his right forearm when he was hit by a line drive Sunday at New York.

Cubs: INF Ildemaro Vargas was activated from the 10-day injured list after missing the last part of the season with a right hamstring strain.

UP NEXT

Sanchez, one of baseball’s top prospects, made his big league debt on Aug. 22. Game 2 will be his first start at Wrigley.

"To be honest, I don’t know much about the history of the ballpark, but I know I will be pitching against the Cubs," he said through a translator. "It’s going to be great."

Darvish is making his first playoff appearance since signing with Chicago before the 2018 season. He is 2-4 with a 5.81 ERA in six career post-season starts.