CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum informed Carlos Marmol Friday that he is out as the closer, a day after the struggling reliever blew a 3-0 ninth-inning lead in a loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

Sveum said he will use a combination of left-hander James Russell and right-hander Rafael Dolis to close games for now.

"I called (Marmol) into the office and told him he is not the closer right now," Sveum said before Friday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. "We will wing that situation in the ninth inning between Russell and Dolis depending on the matchup, and I told Marmol to be ready to pitch at any time."

Marmol walked three of the five batters he faced in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Reds, wasting eight shutout innings by Ryan Dempster.

Marmol said after the game that he hoped to remain the closer, but knows the manager makes the final choice.

"You lose a game like that, I'm embarrassed right now," Marmol said.

Marmol has converted just two of five save chances this season and has a 6.23 ERA with 12 walks in 8 2/3 innings. He got the save with a perfect inning in a 3-1 victory over the Reds Wednesday, but he went to a full count on the first batter, while the second batter flew out to the base of the left-field wall.