Nolasco goes seven strong, hits HR as Fish spank Cubs

MIAMI (AP) -- Ricky Nolasco's first home run since high school fell short of being his personal highlight Monday night.

Nolasco pitched seven strong innings and hit his first career home run to help Florida beat the Chicago Cubs 9-1, snapping the Marlins' season-high seven-game losing streak.

"Definitely, the pitching part of the game is what's most important," Nolasco said. "My main job is to go out there and keep my team in the ballgame."

Hanley Ramirez, Chris Aguila and Nolasco each had two RBI for Florida, which won for the fourth time in 18 home games.

Ramirez had three hits, three runs and reached base five times. Nolasco had two hits and scored twice.

Nolasco (3-1) gave up one run and four hits in the longest outing of his career. The former reliever was making his second career start. He pitched 3 2-3 innings on May 17 at Atlanta in his first start.

"He worked fast and got quick outs," Marlins manager Joe Girardi said. "When you do that, a lot of times you hit better (as a team)."

Sean Marshall (3-2) allowed seven runs and seven hits in 3 1-3 innings, his shortest outing of the season. He walked four, struck out two and hit two batters.

"I left some balls up and they did a good job and had a good approach," Marshall said.

Aramis Ramirez hit his ninth home run in the seventh for the Cubs, who lost for the fourth time in five games.

"You come off a big win against the White Sox, and you know the energy (playing before 9,462 fans) is not there," Cubs center fielder Juan Pierre said. "But as professionals you have to find a way to win the game."

Nolasco sent Marshall's first pitch of the fourth inning 341 feet down the left-field line and into the second level to build a 5-0 lead. It was Nolasco's first career hit and the first home run by a Marlins pitcher since Dontrelle Willis' at Houston on Sept 12, 2005.

"I thought it might be a little too high, but after I heard the crowd, I knew it was gone," Nolasco said. "I probably had goose bumps rounding the bases, but I don't remember."

Aguila added a two-out, two-run double in the fourth to open a 7-0 lead.

The Marlins went ahead 9-0 in the fifth thanks to Nolasco's run-scoring single and Miguel Cabrera's sacrifice fly.

Nolasco had been 0-for-3 in his career before getting the two hits on Monday.

Florida took a 4-0 lead with a three-run second.

Hanley Ramirez lined a two-run single to left. He then stole second and scored on Dan Uggla's ground-rule double to right-center field.

Ramirez, who did not start the previous five games because of a strained left shoulder, scored the game's first run when Cabrera hit into a double-play in the first.

Florida acquired Nolasco from Chicago in the Dec. 7 trade that sent Pierre to the Cubs.

Game notes
Marshall and Nolasco were teammates at Chicago's West Tenn Double-A affiliate. ... The Marlins activated OF Jeremy Hermida from the 15-day disabled list and optioned IF Robert Andino to Triple-A Albuquerque. Hermida singled as a pinch-hitter in the sixth and remained in the game in right. ... Pierre received a nice ovation after doubling in the sixth.