Cubs beat Marlins 5-1 after game called due to rain delay; Rizzo and Campana visit kids with cancer; Randy Wells placed on DL by Iowa; Jorge Soler to make debut Thursday

The Cubs beat the Miami Marlins 5-1 Wednesday night at Wrigley Field to even up the series.  The game was halted in the eighth inning after thunderstorms moved into Chicago.  After a one hour and 17 minute rain delay, the game was called and Cubs fans were able to sing "Go Cubs Go!"

Jeff Samardzija started for the Cubs and allowed one run on six hits and struck out nine batters and walked three.  He lasted just five innings and was pulled after 97 pitches.

Jeff Samardzija started for the Cubs on Wednesday at Wrigley Field (photo from cubs.com)

Starlin Castro tied the game 1-1 in the fourth inning by hitting a solo home run.  The Cubs then scored four more runs in the seventh inning.  Geovany Soto's RBI single drove home Alfonso Soriano to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead.  The Cubs then scored three more runs when Jeff Baker hit a two-run pinch double and David DeJesus hit a sacrifice fly.

The Cubs were leading the Marlins 5-1 in the eighth inning when heavy thunderstorms forced a rain delay that lasted one hour and 17 minutes before the game was called.

In other Cubs news, Anthony Rizzo and Tony Campana, who are both cancer (Hodgkin's lymphoma) survivors, visited young patients at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago for a couple of hours on Wednesday.

Tony Campana and Anthony Rizzo visited patients at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago on Wednesday (photo from cubs.com)

"Sometimes, we'd go into a room and just say hi, cheer them up," Rizzo said.  "Other times, we'd talk to them a little more and tell them Tony and I are both survivors and what we went through, and we know it's not fun.  Kids were sitting there getting chemotherapy as we're talking to them.  We just tell them to have fun."

"The situation I'm in now, I have a chance to go out and show kids that, hey, there's a light at the end of the tunnel and keep fighting no matter what and always have fun," Rizzo said.

Right-handed pitcher Randy Wells has been placed on the disabled list by the Iowa Cubs retroactive to July 15th with a right elbow strain.  Wells has a record of 1-2 in 12 games and an ERA of 5.34, including four starts with the Cubs.  He was designated for assignment in June and outrighted to Triple-A Iowa.  

Jorge Soler, who signed a nine-year, $30 million deal with the Cubs earlier this month, will make his pro debut in an Arizona Rookie League game on Thursday. 

Tomorrow the Marlins and Cubs will play the final game in the three-game series at 1:20pm CT at Wrigley Field.  Paul Maholm will start for the Cubs and try to earn his eighth win of the season.