Cubs Can’t Avoid New Bump

The Florida Marlins defeated the Chicago Cubs with a rookie. It just wasn’t the one everyone expected.

Brought into the game after a rain delay at Chicago finished Dontrelle Willis’ day, Nate Bump worked out of a bases-loaded jam, then let the Florida offense take over. Ivan Rodriguez and Luis Castillo responded with consecutive homers in the seventh inning, and the Marlins withstood a ninth-inning rally for a 4-3 victory at Chicago.

“I threw that kid right in the fire,” Manager Jack McKeon said of Bump, who was called up from triple A on June 29.

Bump (2-0) gave up one hit and one run -- a homer by Sammy Sosa -- in 2 1/3 innings. Braden Looper pitched the ninth inning for his 16th save in 19 chances, but the Cubs made him work for it, pulling to within a run on Mark Grudzielanek’s run-scoring single.

It was the 10th loss in 14 games for the Cubs.

“I’ll find something to do for the next hour or so, so I can go home and at least be decent company,” Manager Dusty Baker said.

Chicago had only two hits through the first five innings against Willis, the left-handed rookie who is 7-0 and has a 0.85 earned-run average in his last nine starts. Overall, he’s 8-1 with a 1.98 ERA.

Arizona 9, Colorado 3 -- Pinch-hitter Carlos Baerga ended a seventh-inning tie with a three-run homer at Phoenix, and the Diamondbacks posted their 17th victory in 20 games.

Shea Hillenbrand had two hits, including a double, and has 10 hits in his last 12 at-bats.

Atlanta 5, New York 3 -- Shane Reynolds (6-4), who had lost his previous three starts, gave up two runs and eight hits in six innings at New York and the Braves won their fifth in a row.

Philadelphia 13, Montreal 6 -- Mike Lieberthal had three doubles and drove in four runs at Montreal, and Bobby Abreu hit a three-run homer to help the Phillies end a four-game skid.

Houston 6, Cincinnati 3 -- Tim Redding (5-8) ended his four-game losing streak and Morgan Ensberg hit a two-run homer, and the host Astros handed the Reds their sixth consecutive loss.

The Reds have only 11 hits in the first two games of the series.

Pittsburgh 8, Milwaukee 7 -- Jack Wilson hit a two-run homer in the top of the 10th inning and the Pirates overcame another blown save opportunity by Mike Williams.

The Pirates were extended to extra innings when Williams (1-3) gave up a two-run homer to Wes Helms with one out in the ninth.

Williams, who was selected to the National League All-Star team, blew his fifth save in 29 opportunities and his earned-run average increased to 6.62.