BOX SCORE

The Chicago Cubs entered Tuesday hoping to have a bad memory fade. They were walked off in dramatic fashion the day before, with the Miami Marlins winning on an automatic double, a four-pitch walk and a game-deciding triple after being down to their last strike.

That sparked critical conversations about the Cubs’ bullpen work late in games. Porter Hodge’s trip to the injured list made matters worse, leaving a taxed reliever corps down one of its best arms.

Jameson Taillon and the Cubs’ bats were asked to step up and put the Cubs back on track following a pock mark amidst an otherwise strong series of results. And they delivered.

Taillon pitched deep into the game, and the offense exploded to earn a 14-1 win over the Marlins at loanDepot Park.

Let’s discuss what we learned from Tuesday’s pivotal result:

Offensive outburst eases pressure on relievers

The Cubs’ lineup has tons of power. They typically get the job done with extra-base hits, but a series of singles will work just as well.

They started the sixth inning with a walk and then five consecutive singles to give Chicago a 5-1 lead. Justin Turner’s sacrifice fly then added to the tally.

It’s no shock the outburst came once Marlins starter Ryan Weathers left the game. The hard-throwing left-hander gave up only one run — on a Kyle Tucker home run — over five innings. Some smart, lengthy at-bats forced Weathers out a bit earlier, making way for the bullpen, which the Cubs could exploit some less-talented arms.

That led to a massive inning that broke the game wide open. After the long run of singles, Chicago’s power did the rest. Matt Shaw hit an RBI double, and Seiya Suzuki’s 405-foot home run shortly capped the scoring at eight runs.

All told, the Cubs batted 12 times and recorded eight hits in a dominant display of hitting and base running. And in doing so, they took some pressure off a pitching staff that entering the game with the pressure on following Monday’s rough ending.

And, frankly, the Cubs’ best single-inning output this season couldn’t have come at a better time.

Matt Shaw eliminates lineup’s only weak link

Third base was a rare position that hadn’t produced much offense for the Cubs this season. Shaw’s return has given that spot a boost, however.

The rookie has been solid since returning to the Cubs on Monday, with two multi-hit games that each featured the extra-base hits expected of the franchise’s top prospect.

Shaw also had an excellent at-bat that ended in a groundout but forced Weathers to throw 11 pitches and helped get him out after just five innings. He’ll need to continue producing like this to shore up the third-base spot, but he’s off to a good start and it’s clear the adjustments made in the minors have helped him out in the big leagues.

Jameson Taillon helps his bullpen

The bullpen is banged up and a bit fatigued right now, which is why president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer plainly stated Tuesday that the Cubs need more from their rotation. They need starters to go deeper into games, ideally into the sixth or (preferably) seventh inning.

Jameson Taillon had the first opportunity to lift some burden off the bullpen and give guys rest. The big right-hander then started the game with the type of efficiency required for an extended outing and possibly a quality start.

That’s exactly how it worked out. Taillon made quick work of the Marlins and cruised through an excellent outing that the Cubs desperately needed, allowing only one run on four hits over seven innings, with three walks and two strikeouts.

Taillon’s ability to go deep into the game should help the bullpen get to a Thursday off day that should be restorative entering the weekend. That doesn’t happen without Taillon. While the offense receives the headline, Taillon’s pitching was vital in an ideal response to Monday’s events.