Cubs lose Zambrano, Ramirez and 9th-inning lead but still beat Marlins 9-8

Cubs stagger past Marlins 9-8

MIAMI — The Chicago Cubs struck out 14 times, stranded 14 runners and gave up nine walks. They lost ace Carlos Zambrano and slugger Aramis Ramirez to injuries. They blew an early six-run lead, and a three-run lead with two out in the ninth.

Thanks to Derrek Lee, they won anyway.

Lee led off the 10th inning with a home run Saturday night, and the Cubs beat the relentless but hapless Florida Marlins 9-8.

Florida staged an impressive comeback in the ninth but stranded 14 runners, committed three errors and allowed three unearned runs.

Zambrano was given a 6-0 lead but struggled with his control and left the game because of a stiff back after throwing 62 pitches. The right-hander walked the bases loaded in the first, later hit Hanley Ramirez with a pitch and allowed two runs before departing.

Florida’s Ramirez, who leads the NL with a .343 average, left in the third with a bruised left knee. Aramis Ramirez drove in three runs before departing in the 10th after he was hit in the side by a pitch.

Cubs closer Kevin Gregg had an 8-5 lead in the ninth and retired the first two batters before Ronny Paulino connected for his first career pinch-hit homer. Chris Coghlan and Marlins newcomer Nick Johnson singled, and Emilio Bonifacio’s triple tied the score.

Gregg (4-2) retired Jorge Cantu on an inning-ending groundout, and the Cubs quickly regained the lead when Lee hit his 21st homer off Leo Nunez (3-4).

Aaron Heilman pitched a perfect 10th for his first save this year.

Both teams used all of their position players. The Cubs’ Alfonso Soriano played three positions, including two in the 10th, when manager Lou Piniella moved him from second base to third and back to second to reduce the chance the ball would be hit to him.

The Marlins twice left the bases loaded, the second time when they trailed 6-5 in the eighth against Carlos Marmol.

Marmol walked two batters and hit another, then fell behind Dan Uggla 2-0. The right-hander came back with three consecutive strikes to strike out Uggla looking, then struck out Jeremy Hermida swinging.

Marmol celebrated his escape with a fist pump and screamed along with the many Cubs fans in the crowd of 35,811.

Johnson, making his Marlins debut at first base after being acquired from Washington, reached base five times and doubled home a run. Hermida had two run-scoring singles.

Hanley Ramirez limped away from the plate after being hit with a pitch and crumpled to the ground near the backstop. He remained in the game, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on a single by Hermida, but he was replaced at shortstop in the next inning by Bonifacio.

Cantu, who moved to third to make room for Johnson, committed two throwing errors. The second misfire led to two unearned runs in the ninth, which scored on Ryan Theriot’s triple.

Burke Badenhop, making only his second start this year, lasted only 1 2-3 innings for Florida. He walked four and gave up six runs, five earned.

Zambrano needed 27 pitches to get through the first inning. After walking three, he escaped when Lee made a lunging backhanded stop at first base to retire Hermida for the third out.

NOTES: Piniella said LHP Ted Lilly (shoulder) may be ready for a rehabilitation start as early as Aug. 14 and could rejoin the rotation after that. … Koyie Hill started his 22nd consecutive game. That’s the longest streak for a Cubs catcher since Damon Berryhill started 25 in a row in 1989. … The Cubs led the NL in July with 36 homers.