Chicago Cubs’ first baseman Anthony Rizzo ripped a long homerun down the RF line in the bottom of the 13th inning as the Cubs defeated the Miami Marlins by a score of 5-3.

The Cubs still have one of the worst records in all of baseball at 24-34, but they are currently firing on all cylinders as they have now won four games in a row, and five of their last six.

The starting pitchers were the story early on in this one. Cubs’ RHP Jason Hammel was incredible once again, pitching seven scoreless innings, allowing six hits and only one walk. Hammel struck out 8. He is now 7-3 on the season with a 2.53 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP.

Nathan Eovaldi did not allow a base-runner until the 5th inning for the Marlins, as he went 7.2 strong innings, giving up 3 earned runs on six hits and a walk. Eovaldi also fanned 8 batters.

The Cubs’ offense was held in check in the early going in this game. Nate Schierholtz was the Cubs’ first base-runner of the afternoon, as he hit a two-out single in the bottom of the 5th inning. Former Marlin Chris Coghlan scored Schierholtz with a double ripped to RF.

Hammel shut down the Marlins through seven, and Wesley Wright and Neil Ramirez teamed up for a perfect 8th inning. The Cubs then added some insurance in the bottom of the 8th. Justin Ruggiano hit a one-out double, which was followed up with an infield single by Emilio Bonifacio.

Junior Lake then hit a chopper to first baseman Garrett Jones who bobbled the ball before getting Bonifacio on the force-out at 2B. If Jones does not bobble that ball, it is likely a double play that ends the inning. Rizzo then stepped to the plate for his first big hit of the game, an opposite field double to left that scored both Ruggiano and Lake. As it turns out, those runs would become very important.

Cubs’ closer Hector Rondon entered the ninth in a save situation, and unfortunately it did not end well for him. Casey McGehee and Jones led off the inning with back-to-back softly hit singles that just feel in front of the Cubs’ outfielders. Rondon then struck-out Marcell Ozuna, before Adeiny Hechavaria hit another bloop single to load the bases with one out.

Pinch-hitter Justin Bour then hit a bouncer to Rizzo at first. Rizzo tossed the ball to a covering Rondon, who pulled his foot off of the bag. Bour was originally called safe, but Cubs’ manager Rick Renteria challenged the play and it was overturned. A run still scored to make it 3-1 with two outs.

Ex-Cub Reed Johnson stepped to the plate next as a pinch hitter and promptly ripped a 2-out single to right, scoring both Jones and Hechavaria to tie up the game.

Neither team put up much of a threat to score until Lake led off the 13th with a single, in front of Rizzo’s long walk-off shot off of RHP Kevin Slowey. It was Rizzo’s 12th homerun of the season, and he is now hitting an impressive .276/.402/.493 on the year. Carlos Villanueva pitched two perfect innings to pick up the win, he is now 2-5 on the year.