Hermida's pinch-hit home run off Bob Howry to lead off the ninth inning rallied the Marlins to a 3-2 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon in front of 41,570.

Because of matchup reasons, Hermida, the regular right fielder, was not in the starting lineup on Thursday and Friday.

With the Cubs starting Ryan Dempster, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez went with veteran Luis Gonzalez in right field. The move was based on the 18-year veteran's 10-for-18 career numbers off the Chicago right-hander.

"Gonzo played because of the numbers that he's had against Dempster," Fredi Gonzalez said. "I told [Hermida] before the game, and [bench coach] Carlos [Tosca] told him the same thing: 'Don't think anything of it. Don't read into it. Just be ready to get into the game if needed.'"

The Marlins turned to Hermida to open the ninth inning as a pinch-hitter for catcher Paul Hoover. The left-handed-hitting outfielder responded by crushing his 13th homer of the season, a drive that cleared the wall in right field and onto the street.

It was just the second career pinch-hit home run for Hermida. His first, ironically, was a grand slam off the Cardinals on Aug. 31, 2005, in Hermida's first career at-bat.

With one swing, Hermida silenced the packed crowd and gave the Marlins the necessary run to even their four-game series.

It was pretty much a no-doubt shot.

"I had a pretty good feeling," Hermida said of the home run, and the silence that followed as he rounded the bases. "It's just an electric vibe. To play here is fun. Their players are fortunate to play in front of these fans every day. They are among the most passionate fans in the game -- the way they cheer their team and back their team."

Kevin Gregg worked a perfect ninth inning for his 21st save, capping a total team effort against the club with the best record in the National League.

The loss was just the 13th for the Cubs at Wrigley Field this season. They've won 38, and they are now 60-43 overall, while the Marlins are 54-49 after snapping a two-game slide.

"I think we're a high-quality team, we're a team that can compete," Gregg said. "That was a well-fought game. They were the first National League team to 60 wins. We won Game 2. We're showing we can compete with a team that supposedly is the best team in the National League."

Starter Josh Johnson was effective in 5 1/3 innings. Relievers Joe Nelson, Doug Waechter, Renyel Pinto and Justin Miller kept the Cubs scoreless, giving Gregg a save chance in the ninth inning.

Continuing to make progress in his return from Tommy John ligament replacement surgery, Johnson struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old, making his third start since being reinstated from the disabled list, had an encouraging outing. But he was victimized by two solo home runs, and he finished with his third straight no-decision.

They were the first homers Johnson has issued this season.

Reed Johnson's fifth homer of the season gave the Cubs the lead with one out in the fifth inning.

"I just got those two balls up," the Marlins starter said of his home runs allowed. "I think one of them, it got up in the wind, and that's the way it goes sometimes. That's Wrigley Field for you.

"All I want to do is keep our team in it. I know [Dempster] throws very well in here. I was trying to keep us right there. I feel like I had flashes of being real aggressive, and at times I wasn't aggressive. I still have got some work to do."

Dempster, the former Marlin, gave up one run on two hits in six innings, was in line for the win. But Florida tied it at 2 in the seventh inning on Jorge Cantu's two-out RBI double off hard-throwing Jeff Samardzija, who was making his Major League debut. Hanley Ramirez singled to center, stole second and scored on Cantu's double, which snapped an 0-for-16 team string with runners in scoring position.

The Marlins struck for a run in the second inning. Dan Uggla was hit by a pitch and he scored from first on Josh Willingham's double to right-center.

Chicago responded in the second on Geovany Soto's two-out, solo home run to left. The All-Star catcher's 17th shot of the season ended Josh Johnson's string of three straight strikeouts.

Joe Nelson, who entered in relief in the sixth inning with the bases loaded, struck out pinch-hitter Daryle Ward, who fouled off five straight pitches before swinging through strike three.

"J.J., he pitched so well," Nelson said. "If you go out there and let his runs score, you feel terrible. You're always motivated but that's a big out."