CHICAGO _ The Cubs' power compensated for any shortcomings Thursday as they stretched their winning streak to three games.
Thanks to home runs by Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, the Cubs earned a 4-1 win over the Marlins at Wrigley Field and increased their lead in the National League Central to one game over the idle Brewers.
The home runs overshadowed another uneven performance by Yu Darvish, who allowed one hit and struck out seven but lasted only four innings because of six walks in a 97-pitch performance.
The only hit allowed by Darvish was a single by Rosell Herrera in the fourth that scored Peter O'Brien. Darvish walked opposing pitcher Trevor Richards before inducing Miguel Rojas to ground into a fielder's choice to end the inning and his outing.
The Marlins stole four bases with Darvish on the mound.
Left-hander Mike Montgomery, making his first appearance since coming off the injured list Wednesday, pitched five scoreless innings to earn the win.
Bryant gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the first with his sixth home run in his last 12 games. Bryant has reached base safely in 19 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the majors.
The Cubs added another run with two outs in the first when Javier Baez hustled from first to third on a single by Kyle Schwarber and scored on Albert Almora Jr.'s hit to left.
Rizzo provided some insurance with a two-run home run to center in the fifth. Rizzo's homer was his 200th as a member of the Cubs, moving him into ninth place on the franchise's all-time list.
Rizzo's homer was his sixth in his last 11 games.
The Cubs, who won for the 10th time in their last 11 games, open a three-game series Friday against the Brewers at Wrigley.
