Rockies embarrass Cubs in series finale

Coming off one of the worst offensive months in franchise history, the Colorado Rockies finally backed one of their excellent pitching performances with some offense that did more than just get the job done. They flat out embarrassed the Chicago Cubs in an 11-2 victory to take another road series.

Perhaps taking out some frustration, the bats exploded for 11 runs on 15 hits including four home runs. Considering the only two runs the Cubs managed against Tyler Anderson came on short solo home runs on a windy day—when he was otherwise dominant—this was probably the most complete all-around game for the Rockies so far in 2018.

As they did the night before, Colorado took a two-run lead in the first. Charlie Blackmon walked to lead off the game and would score on a 440-foot blast to center field off the bat of Nolan Arenado.

They added in the second on an RBI single from Blackmon and in the third on a fielder’s choice from the newest Rockie, Daniel Castro.

The Cubs finally got to Anderson in the fourth on another wind-aided Anthony Rizzo home run, his second in as many days.

In the fifth, Trevor Story hit his seventh homer of the season and collected his team-high 20th RBI. Chris Iannetta busted out of a slump by making it back-to-back shots and giving the Rockies a 5-1 lead.

Kris Bryant got one back on a solo home run in the sixth. The two solo homers were the only real blemishes on Anderson’s otherwise stellar afternoon.

The Rockies blew it wide open in the top of the eighth when Noel Cuevas threw out a pinch-hit single, Blackmon walked again, and Arenado blasted a no-doubt screaming home run onto Waveland Avenue beyond the bleachers in left field. His second round-tripper of the day made it 9-2, Rockies.

But they weren’t done yet, getting an RBI single from Gerardo Parra that was misplayed in left by Wilson Contreras, allowing Story to score all the way from first and Parra to reach third. Iannetta’s groundout to short scored Parra, making it 11-2.

The Rockies offense did not go down in order in a single inning in this game.

Final Stats:

Tyler Anderson: 7 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K

Jake McGee: 1 IP, K

Nolan Arenado: 3-for-6, 2 R, 5 RBI, 2B, 2 HR (7)

Trevor Story: 2-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI, HR (7)

Gerardo Parra: 3-for-5, 2 R

Chris Iannetta: 1-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, HR

Charlie Blackmon: 1-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB

What’s Next:

It’s off to the city that never sleeps for a three-game set between the Colorado Rockies and New York Mets. After a day off on Thursday, Game 1 will start at 5:10 Mountain Time. German Marquez gets the rock against Zach Wheeler.