Cubs' bats go silent in loss to Rockies |
A pitching duel in Chicago coupled with a tough day for the Cubs’ batters ended with the Colorado Rockies taking the series with a 2-0 victory.
The first score of the game came when Nolean Arenado hit a solo home run to left field to give the Rockies a 1-0 lead in the 4th inning. It was Arenado’s first ever home run scored at Wigley Field in front of an announced crowd of 41,678. It wouldn't be his last. Jorge Soler ended the perfect game for Tyler Chatwood with a walk in the 5th inning and became the first to reach base for the Cubs. Javier Baez then came through with a single to left field, but the inning ended with David Ross grounding out. Jon Lester started off the 6th with a lead off double, followed by a Fowler pop up, Heyward struck out, and Zobrist fly out to end the inning. In the 8th inning, Adam Warren came in to replace Jon Lester as he had a stellar performance with ten strikeouts (7.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 K). The start of the 9th saw another pitching change for the Cubs with Justin Grimm coming in for Adam Warren to close out the game. Nolan Arenado stretched out the lead for the Rockies to 2-0 after smacking another home run which was his sixth of the season. The Cubs saw Jake McGee relieve Castro in the 9th. Heyward was able to get a one-out double to right, but Kris Bryant struck out with two on, and two outs to end the game. It was the first series loss of the year for the Cubs but they are still 9-3, and first place in the NL Central by two games and have the league's best run differential. The Rockies have won four out of the last five games to move to 7-5. Cubs (9-3) are back in action tomorrow in St. Louis for an 7:09 p.m. CT on ESPN against the Cardinals. Right-handed pitcher John Lackey (2-0, 5.68 ERA) will take the mound against righty Mike Leake (0-1, 6.97 ERA).
