Observations: Marlins blow out Cubs in another ugly game

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The Cubs lost 11-1 to the Marlins on Saturday in their worst, ugliest and most embarrassing game of the year, dropping to 39-32 this season.

"We didn't play very well in any facet of the game," manager David Ross said. "Hitting, pitching, baserunning, defense — just not our day."

Here are 10 observations from the game.

1. Adam Duvall may not see another strike this weekend. The Miami outfielder hit a pair of two-run homers Saturday, after hitting a grand slam and two-run blast Friday night. He’s 5-for-8 with four homers and 10 RBIs this weekend.

2. The Marlins teed off on Jake Arrieta in his three innings. Seven of their 11 balls in play off him registered 100+ mph exit velocities. Five of those went for hits, including Duvall’s home runs.

"That's the most frustrating part of the day for me, is keeping us in a position where we had a chance to win," Arrieta said. "The game was pretty much out of hand after the first three innings."

3. Arrieta posted a 2.57 ERA in his first five starts. Over his last nine, he’s registered a 7.58 ERA, including Saturday (six runs, four earned). 

4. David Ross discussed Friday how it’s hard not to put Willson Contreras in the lineup every day because the backstop obviously needs days off. Jose Lobaton started at catcher Saturday and the Marlins ran wild, stealing five bases, four with Arrieta on the mound.

Ross was asked postgame what could have played into Miami stealing as much as they did.

"Without being on [Miami's side], there's times to the plate. Maybe they had a tell on Jake," Ross said. "Maybe they could see Loby's signs. Maybe they just had a lot of really fast guys that this is what they do.

"There's a lot of scenarios when teams run and are aggressive on the bases that it could be."

5. A routine infield pop fly turned into an RBI single for Miami in the fifth, dropping between Kris Bryant and Lobaton out in front of the plate.

6. An inning later, Miami catcher Jorge Alfaro made a ridiculous catch on Joc Pederson’s sky-high pop fly that drifted from foul territory back out in front of the play.

Pederson, who had already started walking back to the dugout before Alfaro made the catch, exited the game after. 

7. Jason Heyward didn’t catch a Duvall fly ball he appeared to lose in the sun in the fifth — recovering to get a forceout at second. He flashed his leather two innings later with an excellent diving catch in right.

8. With three on Saturday, the Cubs have registered five or less hits in six of their past seven games.

9. Heyward's solo home run accounted for all the Cubs' offense on Saturday. All 12 of their runs this week have come via nine home runs. 

10. The Marlins entered this weekend 29-39 with a +2 run differential. They’re 2-0 against the Cubs and have outscored them 21-3.

"It doesn't really matter who you're playing," Arrieta said. "Regardless of the record, their staff has one of the best ERAs in baseball. They have some nice pieces in their lineup; they can swing the bat.

"Don't let the record fool you. These guys can play."

On deck: The Cubs look to avoid the sweep Sunday. First pitch is 1:20 p.m. Alec Mills (2-1, 6.11 ERA) and Zach Thompson (1-1, 2.25 ERA) are the probable starters.

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