Garrett Cooper's late home run backs up pitching, helps Marlins advance past Cubs and into NLDS

Miami Marlins catcher Chad Wallach tags out Chicago Cubs baserunner Willson Contreras, right, at home plate in the fourth inning of Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. The Marlins advanced with a 2-0 victory. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

CHICAGO _ Garrett Cooper, with a 2-2 count and two outs against National League Cy Young Award contender Yu Darvish in the seventh inning, gave the Miami Marlins the clutch hit they needed Friday as they tried to close out a first-round playoff sweep.

He turned on an 82.9-mph slider that caused the visitor's dugout to erupt amid the silence of an empty Wrigley Field. The celebration continued as the ball dropped 370 feet from home plate and into the left-field seats.

It started the latest two-out rally for the Marlins this season. This time, though, it led Miami to a wild-card series-clinching 2-0 win over the Cubs and punched their ticket to the National League Division Series. The Marlins opened the best-of-3 series with a 5-1 win on Wednesday and will face the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series starting Tuesday at Houston's Minute Maid Park.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish heads to the dugout after being pulled from the game in the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. The Marlins advanced with a 2-0 victory. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

"You work your whole life to get to a situation like this," Cooper said, "to be in a situation where you can advance and control your own destiny by every play, every ball, everything that happens each play."

The Marlins batted .251 this season with two outs, which was the seventh-highest mark in the Majors and fifth in the National League. Moreover, the Marlins scored 122 of their 263 runs _ an MLB-leading 46.4% _ during the regular season with two outs.

The late-inning hitting continued Friday. Magneuris Sierra followed Cooper's home run with an RBI single through the right side. He got to the plate after Matt Joyce doubled and the Cubs intentionally walked Miguel Rojas.

The Miami Marlins celebrate after a 2-0 series-clinching victory against the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

It all backed up a stout pitching performance led by rookie pitcher Sixto Sanchez.

Sanchez, the Marlins' top prospect, twirled five scoreless innings, holding the Cubs to four hits and two walks while striking out six. Sanchez also hit two batters.

Sanchez got out of the fourth inning after walking the first two batters he faced with help from his defense. Jon Berti grabbed a line drive from Kris Bryant for the first out before right fielder Joyce threw out Willson Contreras trying to score from second on a Jason Heyward single. A Javier Baez flyout ended the inning.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish works against the Miami Marlins in the first inning of Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. The Marlins advanced with a 2-0 victory. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

In the fifth, Sanchez loaded the bases on a pair of one-out singles from Victor Caratini and Ian Happ and a two-out hit-by-pitch before getting Kyle Schwarber to fly out to left and end the threat. Sanchez clapped his hands as Schwarber slammed his bat on the ground, knowing the out was going to be recorded.

Brad Boxberger (1 1/3 innings), Richard Bleier (2/3 innings), Yimi Garcia (1 inning) and Brandon Kintzler (1 inning) threw four shutout innings to secure the win.

The Miami Marlins' Garrett Cooper (26) celebrates with a teammate after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs in the seventh inning of Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. The Marlins advanced with a 2-0 victory. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

Chicago Cubs center fielder Ian Happ (8) dives, but is unable to catch a double by the Miami Marlins' Matt Joyce in the seventh inning during Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. The Marlins advanced with a 2-0 victory. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

The Miami Marlins' Garrett Cooper rounds the bases on a solo home run off of Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish in the seventh inning of Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. The Marlins advanced with a 2-0 victory. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

The Chicago Cubs' Kyle Schwarber throws his bat to the ground after flying out with the bases loaded in the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. The Marlins advanced with a 2-0 victory. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

The Miami Marlins celebrate after a 2-0 series-clinching victory against the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

The Miami Marlins' Lewis Brinson slides in safely at home plate on an RBI single by Magneuris Sierra as Chicago Cubs catcher Victor Caratini (7) waits for a late throw in the seventh inning Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. The Marlins advanced with a 2-0 victory. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish works against the Miami Marlins in the seventh inning of Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. The Marlins advanced with a 2-0 victory. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

Miami Marlins pitcher Sixto Sanchez works against the Chicago Cubs in the third inning of Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. The Marlins advanced with a 2-0 victory. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS)