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Marlins prevent Cubs from clinching a playoff spot again with a 3-2 victory
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- Marlins prevent Cubs from clinching a playoff spot again with a 3-2 victory
CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Stowers homered and the Miami Marlins prevented the Chicago Cubs from clinching a playoff berth for the second straight night with a 3-2 victory Wednesday.
Dansby Swanson drove in both runs for the Cubs, who needed a win or an Arizona loss to Colorado to secure an NL wild-card berth. The Diamondbacks beat the Rockies 5-3 .
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Joe Mack's groundout brought home Augustin Ramirez with the go-ahead run in the seventh and the Marlins retired the next nine Chicago batters to win their second straight game after dropping three in San Diego .
Stowers hit his 21st homer, a two-run shot, off Kevin Gausman in the top of the sixth to break a scoreless tie. The Cubs evened things in the bottom of the inning when Swanson laced a broken-bat single into left field to bring home a pair of runs.
Cade Gibson (6-2), the second of four Miami relievers, struck out two in the seventh and Sandy Alcantara worked the ninth for his second save.
Reliever Ryan Rolison (9-2) took the loss.
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Gausman struck out seven and allowed two runs, six hits and a walk in the first 5 2/3 innings. Miami's Ryan Gusto allowed six hits and two walks while striking out five in 5 1/3 innings.
Chicago's Pete Crow-Armstrong needed a stolen base to become the seventh player to join the 40-40 club but went 0 for 3 with a walk and remained at 45 home runs and 39 steals.
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The Cubs have not named a starter for Thursday afternoon's home finale. RHP Tyler Phillips (5-6, 3.45 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Marlins.
