Cubs Offense Secures Split in Colorado

     Game 1

     The Cubs capitalized on enough opportunities while limiting the Rockies in a series-opening win 5-2 at Coors Field.

     The Cubbies got on the board in the first, scoring three runs as the middle of the order exploded. After one out, five straight hits secured a lead they would not give up. Madrigal, Villar, and Schwindel posted singles before an extra-base knock by Suzuki plated the third run of the inning. Hermosillo was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out, before Happ hit into an inning-ending double play that became common throughout the game.

     The two clubs traded scoreless innings after that until the fifth. The Rockies got on the board as they chased Steele from the game after allowing two runners to reach with one out. Roberts replaced him, but could not keep the shutout going. After two outs, Cron doubled home Blackmon before two walks plated another run to cut the deficit to one.

     The Cubs responded in the top of the sixth to extend the lead back to three. Schwindel lead off the inning with his first homer of the year, which was helped by the thin air of Denver. Then with one out, Gomes doubled and was singled home by Happ to cap the scoring.

     The bullpens held each other down the rest of the way, with Keegan Thompson impressing again, earning the win by pitching three and a third scoreless innings.

     Game 2

     Th Cubs dropped game two, as Stroman cruised until a brutual fourth inning collapse sealed the outcome.

     The Cubs started brightly again, plating three runs in the first three innings to build a 3-0 lead.

     With one out in the second, three singles by Villar, Heyward, and Rivas plated the first run. After another out, Ortega singled home Heyward to get a 2-0 advantage early.

     Back-to-back doubles from Madrigal and Contreras plated another tun in the third for a three-run lead.

     Stroman was cruising along until a nightmare fourth inning caught him out. After recording two outs with two men on a couple of long at-bats caught up to him as the Rockies scored five times in the frame capped by a three-run home run by Trejo.

     The Cubs got one right back as Villar hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded and one out. The Cubs failed to do more damage as Suzuki was intentionally walked with runners on second and third before Frazier flew out to end the inning.

     Cron made the gap two again, by hitting a solo homer to center in the fifth.

     The Cubs threatened in the eighth, loading the bases before Contreras struck out.

     The men-in-blue scored another run in the ninth, plating a run with a pair of doubles from Villar and Wisdom with two outs put pressure on the Rockies. Hermosillo pooped out to end the inning and the game though.

     Game 3

     The Cubs brought up Mark Leiter Jr. for the start and he got hammered in the middle innings to send the Cubs back to .500 in game three.

     Villar continued his strong series, grabbing an RBI on a single to right to get the early lead again.

     The Rockies quickly responded with four in the third, followed by three in the fourth highlighted by another Cron home run.

     After another run in the fifth, the Cubs made a rally with four of their own in the seventh. Three straight hits from Suzuki, Heyward, and Wisdom, resulted in Suzuki and Heyward scoring on Wisdom's double. Villar singled home both Wisdom and Hoerner to cut the deficit to three.

     The scoring ended when Heyward tripled home Suzuki to get the Cubs within three before falling 9-6.

     Game 4

     The Cubs finished the series strong, securing a split with the Rockies.

     Chicago continued its strong starts to games scoring the games first five runs.

     Contreras hit a solo shot in the first to start the scoring before Hoerner doubled home Hermosillo and Wisdom in the second.

     Madrigal doubled again before scoring on a Schwindel single in the third. Gomes singled with the bases loaded to plate another run to extend the lead to five.

     The Rockies made it a game in the sixth scoring three times to cut the deficit to one. McMahon capped the scoring in the inning with a two-run shot to make it 5-3.

     Suzuki homered in the seventh to extend the lead to three again.

     The Rockies got the run right back in the bottom of the inning, scoring on a sacrifice fly by Bryant.

     Wick and Robertson shut the down and guarnteed a series split in Colorado.

     The good

     The bats got going in the mile-high city including some players off to cold starts. Patrick Wisdom found his groove, lacing five doubles while batting over .450 for the series. Suzuki continued his hot start while Villar was unstoppable, batting .667 and gathering eight hits in the series. Smyly was solid in his second start and Thompson continues to show his importance out of the bullpen.

     The bad

     The lack of starters showed in the game three loss which could crush the team if they can't find a fifth option. Happ struggled in the series and Ortega continues to struggle at the plate.

     Looking ahead

     The Cubs have three against the Rays at home, before the Pirates come to town for a four game series.