CHICAGO — The crowd erupted as though the Cubs won the World Series. Starlin Castro caught the ball and threw it to first base without scattering the Rockies’ bullpen. Cue the Bronx cheer. Finally, an out after three errors.
The Cubs haven’t had much to brag about over the last century or so, but this kid provides hope. He has been called the Cubs’ Tulo.
Monday night, Castro unwittingly played a starring role in Furor and Ice. The Cubs’ shortstop fielded the baseball like it was coated in margarine as the Rockies slipped away with a 5-3 victory before 37,417 disapproving fans at frigid Wrigley Field.
“It was one of those days. I was trying to make the plays. The ball was wet,” Castro said through an interpreter.
All signs pointed to a Rockies defeat before the first swig of Old Style. Esmil Rogers seemed determined to repeat his ugly performance against San Francisco last week. Five of the first six batters reached. Three scored. It created a daunting task, given the Rockies were averaging two runs per game on this trip.
“I was talking to myself, saying, ‘I can’t let this happen again,’ ” Rogers said. “I had to find a way.”
A team doesn’t lead the National League West, even in April, without a little luck. The Rockies tied the score in the second when Castro endured five minutes you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy.
He bobbled Troy Tulowitzki’s slow roller. He mishandled Jose Lopez’s squibber. Then came the dagger.
Catcher Chris Iannetta, mired in a slump, hit a hard groundball into the hole. Castro moved quickly, set his feet and fired a ball into right field. Three errors. Three runs. The Rockies were back in the game without doing a thing, other than hitting the ball to Castro.
“That could have just easily been me,” Tulowitzki said. “Those were tough conditions.”
Castro’s bungles calmed Rogers’ nerves. After throwing 71 pitches through three innings, he made a statement in the fifth, showing cold-blooded efficiency that defines good teams.
The Rockies grabbed a 4-3 lead when pitcher Matt Garza flung Jonathan Herrera’s sacrifice bunt into the stands, scoring Rogers, who had reached on a perfect bunt. Carlos Gonzalez provided an RBI groundout.
Rogers responded, delivering a shutdown inning. In retiring Marlon Byrd, Alfonso Soriano and Geovany Soto on 10 pitches, he showed why he belongs in the rotation, even with Greg Reynolds knocking loudly on the door in Triple-A.
“He breezed through the fifth,” said manager Jim Tracy, whose team finished with four hits. “It was very important.”
The cushion felt big with the Rockies bullpen a fortress and the team playing typically strong defense. Matt Lindstrom, Rafael Betancourt and Huston Street recorded the final 11 outs.
“Everyone keeps saying how bad we were on the road, and that’s getting a little old. We didn’t have a lot of games like this last year,” Tulowitzki said. “They gave us the game. And we took it.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
E-6, E-6, E-6
Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro had an unforgettable second inning Monday night, allowing the Rockies to score three runs:
First error: Castro bobbles Troy Tulowitzki’s grounder.
Second error: Castro fields a slow roller hit by Jose Lopez but drops the ball trying to transfer it to his throwing hand.
Third error: Castro fields Chris Iannetta’s hard groundball into the hole between short and third. But Castro’s throw to second for an attempted forceout sails into right field, allowing two runs to score.
Looking ahead
TUESDAY: Rockies at Cubs, 6:05 p.m., Root
Jorge De La Rosa (3-0, 3.00 ERA) speaks in whispers at times. It’s in stark contrast to his mound demeanor. The Rockies players talk about how De La Rosa transfers into “demon mode” as he attacks the opposition. With his blisters no longer an issue, De La Rosa can finish his best April as a Rockie. He owns a 1.74 career ERA versus Chicago. Former Rockie Jeff Baker is 3-for-9 off him. James Russell (1-2, 8.00) gets another shot after the Cubs decided there wasn’t anything better in the minors. Righties have mashed Russell, going 15-for-32 with three home runs. That means Ryan Spilborghs could get a spot start.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Upcoming pitching matchups
Wednesday: Rockies’ Jhoulys Chacin (3-1, 2.67 ERA) at Cubs’ Casey Coleman (1-1, 7.43), 12:20 p.m., Root
Thursday: Off
Friday: Pirates’ Kevin Correia (3-2, 3.48) at Rockies’ Jason Hammel (2-1, 3.80), 6:40 p.m., Root
Saturday: Pirates’ Paul Maholm (1-3, 3.90) at Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (0-1, 6.75), 6:10 p.m., Root
