CHICAGO -- The Colorado Rockies
arrived at Wrigley Field this week with a chance to solidify their
standing as a National League contender, and they haven't missed a beat.
Of course, these Chicago Cubs look a long way from their World Series-winning form.
Mark Reynolds and Charlie Blackmon homered, rookie Jeff Hoffman pitched neatly into the seventh inning and the Rockies won their seventh straight game, beating the Cubs 9-1 Saturday. Colorado can complete a four-game sweep of the reigning champs Sunday behind breakout rookie right-hander Antonio Senzatela.
"These guys are growing before our eyes, and it's great stuff and good to see," manager Bud Black said. "Charlie's having a big series. Mark had a big day today. A lot of contributors today."
The Rockies have their longest winning streak since 2011, when they started a run of six straight losing seasons. The Cubs lost their fourth in a row, dropping them to 30-31.
Reynolds had his fourth career four-hit game, including his 17th homer, and Nolan Arenado had a three-run double during a five-run ninth inning. The Rockies, who have the best record in the NL, improved to 24-10 on the road.
One of four rookies in the Rockies' rotation, the 24-year-old Hoffman (4-0) allowed one run and struck out eight in 6 1/3 innings. Four Colorado relievers kept Chicago scoreless the rest of the way.
"It was awesome," Hoffman said of his first start at Wrigley Field. "Facing a great lineup and to be able to go out there and do what I did and execute -- and the team to play the way it did -- was special."
Cubs starter Eddie Butler (3-2) pitched five innings and gave up three runs and six hits in his first outing against his former team. Willson Contreras drove in the only run for Chicago, now sliding after a five-game winning streak.
"We just have to do a better job at the plate," manager Joe Maddon said. "I don't have any strong explanation for it, but a lot of guys are struggling badly at the same time."
Reigning MVP Kris Bryant joined the Cubs in 2015 and isn't used to losing.
"This is probably, I guess, the lowest point that I've been at here," Bryant said. "But it's really not bad when you look at in context of the division."
Chicago entered the day two games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central.
Hoffman dominated in his fourth start and third straight solid outing. The right-hander was one of four players the Rockies acquired from Toronto in a July 2015 trade that sent All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays.
Anthony Rizzo, the third Chicago batter in the first, blooped a single to left, then Hoffman didn't permit another hit until Jason Heyward's lined single with one out in the seventh. Albert Almora Jr. and Contreras then followed with singles for the Cubs' only run.
"We didn't hit any balls hard basically until that inning when we did string together some singles," Maddon said.
The Rockies took a 2-0 lead in the first when DJ LeMahieu and Reynolds each doubled home a run.
Reynolds homered over the left field stands onto Waveland Avenue, making it 3-0 in the fourth. Blackmon hit his 15th homer over the right field bleachers in the seventh.
RUSSELL RETURNS
Addison Russell returned to Cubs lineup, two days after Major League Baseball began an investigation of the All-Star shortstop in the wake of domestic violence allegations in a deleted social media post. The Cubs told Russell not to come to the ballpark Thursday for a game against the Rockies, but he rejoined the team on Friday and didn't play. Russell, who entered the game hitting .209, went 0 for 2 before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh.
QUICK TRIP
The Cubs recalled RHP Felix Pena from Triple-A Iowa and optioned righty Seth Frankoff to the farm club. Frankoff made his major league debut on Friday -- and took the loss against the Rockies -- after being recalled to fill a roster spot for righty Kyle Hendricks, who's on the DL (right had tendinitis).
UP NEXT
Senzatela (8-2, 3.56) will make his first career start at Wrigley Field and try to become the NL's first nine-game winner on Sunday afternoon in the finale of the four-game series. The Cubs will counter with RHP Jake Arrieta (6-4, 4.46).
Colorado Rockies
Of course, these Chicago Cubs look a long way from their World Series-winning form.
Mark Reynolds and Charlie Blackmon homered, rookie Jeff Hoffman pitched neatly into the seventh inning and the Rockies won their seventh straight game, beating the Cubs 9-1 Saturday. Colorado can complete a four-game sweep of the reigning champs Sunday behind breakout rookie right-hander Antonio Senzatela.
"These guys are growing before our eyes, and it's great stuff and good to see," manager Bud Black said. "Charlie's having a big series. Mark had a big day today. A lot of contributors today."
The Rockies have their longest winning streak since 2011, when they started a run of six straight losing seasons. The Cubs lost their fourth in a row, dropping them to 30-31.
Reynolds had his fourth career four-hit game, including his 17th homer, and Nolan Arenado had a three-run double during a five-run ninth inning. The Rockies, who have the best record in the NL, improved to 24-10 on the road.
One of four rookies in the Rockies' rotation, the 24-year-old Hoffman (4-0) allowed one run and struck out eight in 6 1/3 innings. Four Colorado relievers kept Chicago scoreless the rest of the way.
"It was awesome," Hoffman said of his first start at Wrigley Field. "Facing a great lineup and to be able to go out there and do what I did and execute -- and the team to play the way it did -- was special."
Cubs starter Eddie Butler (3-2) pitched five innings and gave up three runs and six hits in his first outing against his former team. Willson Contreras drove in the only run for Chicago, now sliding after a five-game winning streak.
"We just have to do a better job at the plate," manager Joe Maddon said. "I don't have any strong explanation for it, but a lot of guys are struggling badly at the same time."
Reigning MVP Kris Bryant joined the Cubs in 2015 and isn't used to losing.
"This is probably, I guess, the lowest point that I've been at here," Bryant said. "But it's really not bad when you look at in context of the division."
Chicago entered the day two games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central.
Hoffman dominated in his fourth start and third straight solid outing. The right-hander was one of four players the Rockies acquired from Toronto in a July 2015 trade that sent All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays.
Anthony Rizzo, the third Chicago batter in the first, blooped a single to left, then Hoffman didn't permit another hit until Jason Heyward's lined single with one out in the seventh. Albert Almora Jr. and Contreras then followed with singles for the Cubs' only run.
"We didn't hit any balls hard basically until that inning when we did string together some singles," Maddon said.
The Rockies took a 2-0 lead in the first when DJ LeMahieu and Reynolds each doubled home a run.
Reynolds homered over the left field stands onto Waveland Avenue, making it 3-0 in the fourth. Blackmon hit his 15th homer over the right field bleachers in the seventh.
RUSSELL RETURNS
Addison Russell returned to Cubs lineup, two days after Major League Baseball began an investigation of the All-Star shortstop in the wake of domestic violence allegations in a deleted social media post. The Cubs told Russell not to come to the ballpark Thursday for a game against the Rockies, but he rejoined the team on Friday and didn't play. Russell, who entered the game hitting .209, went 0 for 2 before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh.
QUICK TRIP
The Cubs recalled RHP Felix Pena from Triple-A Iowa and optioned righty Seth Frankoff to the farm club. Frankoff made his major league debut on Friday -- and took the loss against the Rockies -- after being recalled to fill a roster spot for righty Kyle Hendricks, who's on the DL (right had tendinitis).
UP NEXT
Senzatela (8-2, 3.56) will make his first career start at Wrigley Field and try to become the NL's first nine-game winner on Sunday afternoon in the finale of the four-game series. The Cubs will counter with RHP Jake Arrieta (6-4, 4.46).
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Colorado - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Eddie Butler pitching for Chicago | COL | CHC |
| Blackmon singled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| LeMahieu doubled to deep right, Blackmon scored. | 1 | 0 |
| Arenado grounded out to shortstop, LeMahieu to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Reynolds doubled to deep center, LeMahieu scored. | 2 | 0 |
| Desmond grounded out to second, Reynolds to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Amarista grounded out to second. | 2 | 0 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Jeff Hoffman pitching for Colorado | COL | CHC |
| Schwarber grounded out to second. | 2 | 0 |
| Bryant walked. | 2 | 0 |
| Rizzo singled to left, Bryant to third, Rizzo to second advancing on throw. | 2 | 0 |
| Zobrist struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| Heyward grounded out to first. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Eddie Butler pitching for Chicago | COL | CHC |
| Tapia flied out to right. | 2 | 0 |
| Wolters walked. | 2 | 0 |
| Rizzo at second base. | 2 | 0 |
| Zobrist at first base. | 2 | 0 |
| Hoffman grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Wolters out at second. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Jeff Hoffman pitching for Colorado | COL | CHC |
| Almora Jr. grounded out to first. | 2 | 0 |
| Contreras struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| Russell flied out to right. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Eddie Butler pitching for Chicago | COL | CHC |
| Rizzo at first base. | 2 | 0 |
| Zobrist at second base. | 2 | 0 |
| Blackmon struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| LeMahieu grounded out to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Arenado grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Jeff Hoffman pitching for Colorado | COL | CHC |
| Butler grounded out to pitcher. | 2 | 0 |
| Schwarber struck out looking. | 2 | 0 |
| Bryant hit by pitch. | 2 | 0 |
| Rizzo struck out looking. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Eddie Butler pitching for Chicago | COL | CHC |
| Reynolds homered to left. | 3 | 0 |
| Desmond grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 0 |
| Amarista flied out to center. | 3 | 0 |
| Tapia singled to right. | 3 | 0 |
| Wolters singled to right, Tapia to third. | 3 | 0 |
| Hoffman grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Wolters out at second. | 3 | 0 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Jeff Hoffman pitching for Colorado | COL | CHC |
| Zobrist lined out to second. | 3 | 0 |
| Heyward grounded out to first. | 3 | 0 |
| Almora Jr. flied out to right. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Eddie Butler pitching for Chicago | COL | CHC |
| Blackmon struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| LeMahieu struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| Arenado grounded out to third. | 3 | 0 |
| -1 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Jeff Hoffman pitching for Colorado | COL | CHC |
| Contreras struck out looking. | 3 | 0 |
| Russell struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| Montero hit for Butler. | 3 | 0 |
| Montero struck out looking. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Justin Grimm pitching for Chicago | COL | CHC |
| Grimm relieved Butler. | 3 | 0 |
| Reynolds struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| Desmond grounded out to first. | 3 | 0 |
| Amarista singled to center. | 3 | 0 |
| Tapia struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Jeff Hoffman pitching for Colorado | COL | CHC |
| Schwarber flied out to left. | 3 | 0 |
| Bryant flied out to right. | 3 | 0 |
| Rizzo struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Brian Duensing pitching for Chicago | COL | CHC |
| Duensing relieved Grimm. | 3 | 0 |
| Wolters struck out swinging. | 3 | 0 |
| Hoffman struck out looking. | 3 | 0 |
| Blackmon homered to right. | 4 | 0 |
| LeMahieu grounded out to third. | 4 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Jeff Hoffman pitching for Colorado | COL | CHC |
| Zobrist flied out to left. | 4 | 0 |
| Heyward singled to right. | 4 | 0 |
| Almora Jr. singled to left, Heyward to second. | 4 | 0 |
| Contreras singled to center, Heyward scored, Almora Jr. to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Qualls relieved Hoffman. | 4 | 1 |
| Happ hit for Russell. | 4 | 1 |
| Happ grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Contreras out at second, Almora Jr. to third. | 4 | 1 |
| Jay hit for Duensing. | 4 | 1 |
| Dunn relieved Qualls. | 4 | 1 |
| Jay lined out to shortstop. | 4 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Felix Pena pitching for Chicago | COL | CHC |
| Zobrist at shortstop. | 4 | 1 |
| Happ at second base. | 4 | 1 |
| Jay in center field. | 4 | 1 |
| Peña relieved Duensing. | 4 | 1 |
| Arenado struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| Reynolds singled to center. | 4 | 1 |
| Desmond flied out to center. | 4 | 1 |
| Amarista grounded out to second. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Jake McGee pitching for Colorado | COL | CHC |
| McGee relieved Dunn. | 4 | 1 |
| Schwarber struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| Bryant singled to right. | 4 | 1 |
| Rizzo popped out to shortstop. | 4 | 1 |
| Zobrist grounded out to second. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Felix Pena pitching for Chicago | COL | CHC |
| Tapia doubled to left. | 4 | 1 |
| Wolters walked. | 4 | 1 |
| González hit for McGee. | 4 | 1 |
| González popped out to shortstop, Tapia tagged out at third, Wolters to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Blackmon intentionally walked. | 4 | 1 |
| Strop relieved Peña. | 4 | 1 |
| LeMahieu reached on infield single to third, Wolters to third, Blackmon to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Arenado doubled to left, Wolters, Blackmon and LeMahieu scored. | 7 | 1 |
| Reynolds reached on infield single to second, Arenado to third. | 7 | 1 |
| Reynolds to second on fielder's indifference. | 7 | 1 |
| Arenado scored, Reynolds to third on wild pitch by Strop. | 8 | 1 |
| Desmond singled to left, Reynolds scored. | 9 | 1 |
| Amarista grounded out to first. | 9 | 1 |
| 5 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Jordan Lyles pitching for Colorado | COL | CHC |
| Lyles relieved McGee. | 9 | 1 |
| Heyward struck out swinging. | 9 | 1 |
| Báez hit for Strop. | 9 | 1 |
| Báez struck out swinging. | 9 | 1 |
| Contreras lined out to center. | 9 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Colorado Rockies
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackmon CF | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 18 | .338 | .384 | .635 |
| LeMahieu 2B | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 21 | .278 | .343 | .369 |
| Arenado 3B | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 21 | .287 | .348 | .559 |
| Reynolds 1B | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .309 | .386 | .581 |
| Desmond LF | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 | .277 | .303 | .378 |
| Amarista SS | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | .329 | .338 | .493 |
| Tapia RF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18 | .111 | .200 | .167 |
| Wolters C | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 17 | .304 | .414 | .366 |
| Hoffman P | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | .091 | .091 | .091 |
Qualls P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Dunn P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
McGee P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
a-González PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .226 | .306 | .354 |
Lyles P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | .500 | .500 |
| Totals | 39 | 9 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 168 | |||
| a-popped out to shortstop for J Mcgee in the 9th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: LeMahieu (12, Butler); Reynolds (8, Butler); Tapia (1, Peña); Arenado (21, Strop) HR: Reynolds (17, 4th inning off Butler 0 on, 0 Out); Blackmon (15, 7th inning off Duensing 0 on, 2 Out) RBI: LeMahieu (28), Reynolds 2 (53), Blackmon (53), Arenado 3 (46), Desmond (17) 2-out RBI: Blackmon, Arenado 3, Desmond GIDP: Hoffman Rockies RISP: 5-10 (LeMahieu 1-1, Desmond 1-2, Amarista 0-1, Reynolds 2-2, González 0-1, Arenado 1-2, Hoffman 0-1) Team LOB: 6 | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL |
| Attendance | 41,226 (100.7% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:09 |
| Weather | 88 degrees, partly cloudy |
| Wind | 20 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Mike Estabrook, First Base - Marvin Hudson, Second Base - Jerry Layne, Third Base - Dan Bellino |
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