Cubs 4, Marlins 2: Left-hander Paul Maholm won his fourth straight decision with eight strong innings and Reed Johnson’s two-run single capped a four-run fifth inning as the Cubs spoiled Mark Buehrle’s return to Chicago.

Maholm (8-6) allowed one run on five hits and struck out four in eight innings. He has yielded only three runs in his last five games (four starts) covering 30 1/3 innings.

The Cubs defeated Miami for the second straight game after losing six in a row to the Marlins. Chicago is a major league-best 14-5 since June 25, including 5-1 following the All-Star break. Chicago has also won 10 of its last 12 at home.

Buehrle (9-9), who was 161-119 in 12 seasons with the White Sox prior to signing with Miami as a free agent, had his four-game winning streak come to an end. He allowed four runs and six hits in five innings after yielding only three runs in his previous four outings.

Johnson also doubled and robbed Jose Reyes of extra bases with a diving catch in right field in the eighth inning.

Carlos Marmol allowed an RBI single to pinch hitter Greg Dobbs in the ninth inning before retiring Omar Infante to earn his 11th save in 13 chances.

After Chicago's Alfonso Soriano homered into the basket in left field leading off the fifth inning, the Cubs loaded the bases with none out. Luis Valbuena followed with a sacrifice fly which advanced all three runners and Maholm struck out before Johnson delivered his hit to left.

The Marlins escaped further damage when left fielder Austin Kearns robbed Starlin Castro of extra bases with a catch against the wall.

The Marlins kept the game scoreless with an unusual double play to end the fourth inning. With Johnson on third and one out, Anthony Rizzo grounded to second baseman Infante, who threw home to catch Johnson in a rundown. After Johnson was tagged out, Reyes threw to second, where Emilio Bonifacio caught Rizzo off the base. The play was scored 4-2-5-1-6-4.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Buehrle had a three-game winning streak snapped against the Cubs and fell to 6-5 lifetime against them. … Chicago’s Jeff Baker went 2-for-3 and is 7-for-10 against Miami this season. … The Cubs’ Darwin Barney was 2-for-3 and is 8-for-18 in his last six games.