DENVER -- A late-night session in the batting cage and a spirited discussion helped Nolan Arenado get his swing back.
Arenado broke out of a slump in a big way, hitting two homers and driving in six runs Sunday to boost the Colorado Rockies past the Chicago Cubs, 11-4.
The All-Star third baseman was 1 of 16 during the Rockies' homestand before getting four hits. He passed Cubs slugger Kris Bryant for the NL homer lead.
"I've been grinding, I haven't really felt like myself, so to be up there, it's a good feeling," Arenado said.
Arenado credited Sunday's results to his work with batting practice pitcher Garrett Carson late Saturday night. He said the two stayed after the loss to the Cubs to watch video and work in the cage.
"We almost got into an argument," Arenado said. "He would be like, `I feel like there's not much off' and I'd be like, 'No, there is something off.' "
The two concluded Arenado was overstriding, and he went into Sunday's game with renewed confidence.
"After (Saturday) night I was able to sleep better after what I worked on," Arenado said. "I applied it today and it worked out."
Arenado hit a three-run homer during a seven-run burst in the first inning that included three Cubs errors, then added another three-run drive in the fourth.
Arenado leads the majors with 104 RBI -- he had a big league-high 130 last year -- and tops the NL with 32 home runs.
Jorge De La Rosa (8-7) tossed eight innings, giving up two home runs to Addison Russell.
De La Rosa delivered a two-run single in the first as the Rockies quickly ended Jason Hammel's 22-inning scoreless streak.
De La Rosa scattered four hits and struck out six in matching his longest outing since last Sept. 16. Russell was the only batter to reach second base against the lefty, who outpitched his former teammate.
"Everything was working really good except those two pitches to Russell," De La Rosa said.
Hammel (13-6) had been 6-0 with an 0.95 ERA since the All-Star before getting roughed up. The Rockies scored 10 runs off him, six earned, in 3 1/3 innings.
Arenado's first homer hugged the left-field foul pole to start the early outburst. Tony Wolters had a two-run double and De La Rosa added his single.
Arenado singled in the second and drove Hammel's first-pitch fastball into the left-field seats to make it 10-0 in the fourth.
"A lot of foul balls today off my slider and two mistakes to Arenado," Hammel said. "That was pretty much the story."
DJ LeMahieu also homered for Colorado.
Russell hit solo homers in the fifth and seventh, and the Cubs scored two more off reliever Matt Carasiti in the ninth.
The Cubs' last run came when pinch-hitter Jorge Soler hit a foul popup between home and first and Anthony Rizzo ran in from third to an uncovered home plate.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: Soler didn't start after fouling a ball off his right knee in Saturday's win. Manager Joe Maddon said he didn't want to play him in the spacious Coors Field outfield.
Rockies: CF Charlie Blackmon was not in the starting lineup for the third straight game because of a bruised right toe. Manager Walt Weiss said Blackmon and would likely be back in the lineup for Monday's game in Milwaukee.
HOT BAT
LeMahieu had three hits, including his 10th homer, to raise his average to .345, tied for the NL batting lead with Washington's Daniel Murphy. They are both 150 for 435 this season. LeMahieu finished the homestand 14 for 20 with nine runs and two homers.
UP NEXT
Cubs: LHP Jon Lester (13-4, 2.86) opens the Cubs' three-game series in San Diego on Monday. It will be the first start of Lester's career in Petco Park.
Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis (10-6, 5.29) will start the series opener at the Brewers on Monday. He is 5-4 on the road this season with eight quality starts.
Chicago Cubs
Arenado broke out of a slump in a big way, hitting two homers and driving in six runs Sunday to boost the Colorado Rockies past the Chicago Cubs, 11-4.
The All-Star third baseman was 1 of 16 during the Rockies' homestand before getting four hits. He passed Cubs slugger Kris Bryant for the NL homer lead.
"I've been grinding, I haven't really felt like myself, so to be up there, it's a good feeling," Arenado said.
Arenado credited Sunday's results to his work with batting practice pitcher Garrett Carson late Saturday night. He said the two stayed after the loss to the Cubs to watch video and work in the cage.
"We almost got into an argument," Arenado said. "He would be like, `I feel like there's not much off' and I'd be like, 'No, there is something off.' "
The two concluded Arenado was overstriding, and he went into Sunday's game with renewed confidence.
"After (Saturday) night I was able to sleep better after what I worked on," Arenado said. "I applied it today and it worked out."
Arenado hit a three-run homer during a seven-run burst in the first inning that included three Cubs errors, then added another three-run drive in the fourth.
Arenado leads the majors with 104 RBI -- he had a big league-high 130 last year -- and tops the NL with 32 home runs.
Jorge De La Rosa (8-7) tossed eight innings, giving up two home runs to Addison Russell.
De La Rosa delivered a two-run single in the first as the Rockies quickly ended Jason Hammel's 22-inning scoreless streak.
De La Rosa scattered four hits and struck out six in matching his longest outing since last Sept. 16. Russell was the only batter to reach second base against the lefty, who outpitched his former teammate.
"Everything was working really good except those two pitches to Russell," De La Rosa said.
Hammel (13-6) had been 6-0 with an 0.95 ERA since the All-Star before getting roughed up. The Rockies scored 10 runs off him, six earned, in 3 1/3 innings.
Arenado's first homer hugged the left-field foul pole to start the early outburst. Tony Wolters had a two-run double and De La Rosa added his single.
Arenado singled in the second and drove Hammel's first-pitch fastball into the left-field seats to make it 10-0 in the fourth.
"A lot of foul balls today off my slider and two mistakes to Arenado," Hammel said. "That was pretty much the story."
DJ LeMahieu also homered for Colorado.
Russell hit solo homers in the fifth and seventh, and the Cubs scored two more off reliever Matt Carasiti in the ninth.
The Cubs' last run came when pinch-hitter Jorge Soler hit a foul popup between home and first and Anthony Rizzo ran in from third to an uncovered home plate.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: Soler didn't start after fouling a ball off his right knee in Saturday's win. Manager Joe Maddon said he didn't want to play him in the spacious Coors Field outfield.
Rockies: CF Charlie Blackmon was not in the starting lineup for the third straight game because of a bruised right toe. Manager Walt Weiss said Blackmon and would likely be back in the lineup for Monday's game in Milwaukee.
HOT BAT
LeMahieu had three hits, including his 10th homer, to raise his average to .345, tied for the NL batting lead with Washington's Daniel Murphy. They are both 150 for 435 this season. LeMahieu finished the homestand 14 for 20 with nine runs and two homers.
UP NEXT
Cubs: LHP Jon Lester (13-4, 2.86) opens the Cubs' three-game series in San Diego on Monday. It will be the first start of Lester's career in Petco Park.
Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis (10-6, 5.29) will start the series opener at the Brewers on Monday. He is 5-4 on the road this season with eight quality starts.
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Chicago - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Jorge De La Rosa pitching for Colorado | CHC | COL |
| Fowler grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Bryant flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Rizzo struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Jason Hammel pitching for Chicago | CHC | COL |
| Dahl singled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| LeMahieu singled to right center, Dahl to third. | 0 | 0 |
| González flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Arenado homered to left (437 feet), Dahl and LeMahieu scored. | 0 | 3 |
| Parra safe at first on error by first baseman Rizzo. | 0 | 3 |
| Descalso walked, Parra to second. | 0 | 3 |
| Paulsen grounded into fielder's choice to third, Parra to third, Descalso safe at second on throwing error by third baseman Bryant. | 0 | 3 |
| Wolters doubled to center, Parra and Descalso scored, Paulsen to third. | 0 | 5 |
| De La Rosa singled to right, Paulsen and Wolters scored. | 0 | 7 |
| Dahl continues to bat after dropped foul ball by catcher Contreras. | 0 | 7 |
| Dahl flied out to center. | 0 | 7 |
| LeMahieu singled to right, De La Rosa to second. | 0 | 7 |
| González lined out to center. | 0 | 7 |
| 7 Runs, 6 Hits, 3 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Jorge De La Rosa pitching for Colorado | CHC | COL |
| Zobrist struck out looking. | 0 | 7 |
| Russell grounded out to second. | 0 | 7 |
| Contreras popped out to second. | 0 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Jason Hammel pitching for Chicago | CHC | COL |
| Arenado singled to left. | 0 | 7 |
| Parra grounded into double play, to first, Arenado out at second. | 0 | 7 |
| Descalso grounded out to second. | 0 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Jorge De La Rosa pitching for Colorado | CHC | COL |
| Báez lined out to right. | 0 | 7 |
| Szczur struck out swinging. | 0 | 7 |
| Hammel struck out swinging. | 0 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Jason Hammel pitching for Chicago | CHC | COL |
| Paulsen struck out swinging. | 0 | 7 |
| Wolters doubled to deep left center, Wolters to third on error by center fielder Fowler. | 0 | 7 |
| De La Rosa grounded out to second. | 0 | 7 |
| Dahl struck out swinging. | 0 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Jorge De La Rosa pitching for Colorado | CHC | COL |
| Fowler walked. | 0 | 7 |
| Bryant grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Fowler out at second. | 0 | 7 |
| Rizzo singled to right center, Bryant to second. | 0 | 7 |
| Zobrist grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Rizzo out at second. | 0 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Jason Hammel pitching for Chicago | CHC | COL |
| LeMahieu walked. | 0 | 7 |
| González doubled to center, LeMahieu to third. | 0 | 7 |
| Arenado homered to left (444 feet), LeMahieu and González scored. | 0 | 10 |
| Parra lined out to right. | 0 | 10 |
| Zastryzny relieved Hammel. | 0 | 10 |
| Descalso struck out looking. | 0 | 10 |
| Paulsen flied out to left. | 0 | 10 |
| 3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Jorge De La Rosa pitching for Colorado | CHC | COL |
| Russell homered to left (398 feet). | 1 | 10 |
| Contreras struck out swinging. | 1 | 10 |
| Báez flied out to left. | 1 | 10 |
| Szczur grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 10 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Rob Zastryzny pitching for Chicago | CHC | COL |
| Wolters struck out swinging. | 1 | 10 |
| De La Rosa grounded out to pitcher. | 1 | 10 |
| Dahl struck out swinging. | 1 | 10 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Jorge De La Rosa pitching for Colorado | CHC | COL |
| Zastryzny grounded out to third. | 1 | 10 |
| Fowler grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 10 |
| Bryant grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 10 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Rob Zastryzny pitching for Chicago | CHC | COL |
| LeMahieu grounded out to third. | 1 | 10 |
| González reached on infield single to shortstop. | 1 | 10 |
| Arenado reached on infield single to pitcher, González to second. | 1 | 10 |
| Parra struck out swinging. | 1 | 10 |
| Descalso walked, González to third, Arenado to second. | 1 | 10 |
| Paulsen struck out swinging. | 1 | 10 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Jorge De La Rosa pitching for Colorado | CHC | COL |
| Rizzo grounded out to first. | 1 | 10 |
| Zobrist struck out swinging. | 1 | 10 |
| Russell homered to left (447 feet). | 2 | 10 |
| Contreras grounded out to pitcher. | 2 | 10 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Spencer Patton pitching for Chicago | CHC | COL |
| Zobrist at shortstop. | 2 | 10 |
| Patton relieved Zastryzny. | 2 | 10 |
| Szczur in right field. | 2 | 10 |
| Wood in left field. | 2 | 10 |
| Wolters grounded out to second. | 2 | 10 |
| De La Rosa grounded out to second. | 2 | 10 |
| Dahl struck out looking. | 2 | 10 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Jorge De La Rosa pitching for Colorado | CHC | COL |
| Báez flied out to right. | 2 | 10 |
| Szczur grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 10 |
| Wood singled to left center. | 2 | 10 |
| Fowler grounded out to second. | 2 | 10 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Colorado - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Spencer Patton pitching for Chicago | CHC | COL |
| LeMahieu homered to left center (436 feet). | 2 | 11 |
| González struck out swinging. | 2 | 11 |
| Arenado grounded out to first. | 2 | 11 |
| Parra reached on infield single to first. | 2 | 11 |
| Descalso struck out looking. | 2 | 11 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Matt Carasiti pitching for Colorado | CHC | COL |
| Adames at third base. | 2 | 11 |
| Carasiti relieved De La Rosa. | 2 | 11 |
| Bryant singled to left. | 2 | 11 |
| Rizzo singled to center, Bryant to third. | 2 | 11 |
| Zobrist singled to deep right, Bryant scored, Rizzo to third, Zobrist out stretching at second. | 3 | 11 |
| Soler hit for Patton. | 3 | 11 |
| Soler fouled out to first, Rizzo scored. | 4 | 11 |
| Contreras lined out to left. | 4 | 11 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Chicago Cubs
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fowler CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | .281 | .393 | .459 |
| Bryant 3B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | .300 | .392 | .565 |
| Rizzo 1B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 22 | .295 | .395 | .562 |
| Zobrist RF-SS | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 17 | .278 | .385 | .448 |
| Russell SS | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .249 | .337 | .430 |
Patton P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
a-Soler PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .238 | .325 | .430 |
| Contreras C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | .264 | .346 | .434 |
| Báez 2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | .275 | .313 | .446 |
| Szczur LF-RF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .289 | .338 | .456 |
| Hammel P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .255 | .268 | .309 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | |
Wood LF
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .222 | .300 | .222 |
| Totals | 32 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 122 | |||
| a-fouled out to first for S Patton in the 9th | ||||||||||
| BATTING HR: Russell 2 (17, 5th inning off De La Rosa 0 on, 0 Out; 7th inning off De La Rosa 0 on, 2 Out) RBI: Russell 2 (78), Zobrist (63), Soler (24) 2-out RBI: Russell GIDP: Zobrist Cubs RISP: 1-3 (Zobrist 1-2, Soler 0-1) Team LOB: 2 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Rizzo (6, ground ball); Bryant (11, throw); Contreras (3, dropped foul ball); Fowler (4, bobble) DP: 1 (Rizzo). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Coors Field, Denver, CO |
| Attendance | 46,206 (91.7% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:00 |
| Weather | 86 degrees, sunny |
| Wind | 5 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Alan Porter, First Base - Jeff Kellogg, Second Base - John Tumpane, Third Base - Ryan Blakney |
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