A number of Chicago Cubs came to the defense of reliever Carlos Marmol after he was booed by fans at Wrigley Field in the team's home-opener on Monday.

"You lose some respect for the fans," pitcher James Russell said. "It's your home park, they should be behind you no matter what. It's not like he's going out there trying to give up games. He's out there busting his butt every day. Personally, it gets under my skin because that's my teammate. I have his back no matter what. It kind of bugs you whenever you hear that. There's no room for it."

Marmol was booed during player introductions, then again when he came in to pitch the eighth inning.

"On Opening Day, to get booed like that isn't fun for anyone and then bringing him in the game, had to do it twice in one day," manager Dale Sveum said. "It's unfortunate that stuff happens. It's tough for all of us to see that."

Marmol was replaced as the team's closer over the weekend after struggling in the season's first week.

"Not at all," he said when asked if the boos bothered him. "I hear the boos. I don't take it a bad way. You have to enjoy. I'm not saying I have to enjoy that but I don't have to worry about it. They pay money to see us and some player not doing his job, [they can boo]."