Rockies’ second baseman DJ LeMahieu. (Ross D. Franklin, The Associated Press)
ROCKIES 4, CUBS 2
At Salt River Fields
DJ Lemahieu put in enough groundball work through three innings Monday to last him two spring trainings. The Rockies’ second baseman assited on five put-outs, including four diving stops.
“He made like four web gems in the first few innings,” manager Walt Weiss said.
LeMahieu slid through the grass in the second to put out Miguel Montero drew a large applause from the 7,913 at Salt River Fields.
“The ball was just finding me,” said LeMahieu, who played six innings. “I think I had one ball hit to me all spring last year.”
He also doubled on a line drive to left field in the fifth that scored Cristhian Adames as the Rockies beat the Cubs, 4-2. His grass- and dirt-stained pants looked like the game matterd.
“It’s good to get a read on some balls at game speed,” he said.
HITS
Left-hander Tyler Anderson, likely headed for Triple-A to start the season, struck out three and allowed just one hit in two impressive innings. He was helped by LeMahieu’s diving stop on a shift up the middle, after Anderson was nearly hit by a line drive.
“I turned around and was like, ‘That’s an out? Are you kidding me?’ That guy’s great,” Anderson said of LeMahieu’s stop.
Anderson squated to duck Dexter Fowler’s comebacker, then fell over in a backward sommersault. “That hasn’t happend to me in awhile,” he said. “That was just all un-athletic, is what that was.”
** Mark Reynolds’ double to center in the sixth scored Gerardo Parra as the Rockies rallied.
MISSES
Chicago’s top two pitchers, starter Aaron Brooks and Stephen Fife, held the Rockies to just two hits in the first four innings.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Rockies (4-2) travel to Surprise to face the Kansas City Royals (2-5) on Tuesday at 1:05 p.m.
Rockies pitchers — RHP Jordan Lyles, RH Shane Carle, RH Jason Motte, RH Scott Oberg, RH Gonzalez Germen, RH Brian Schlitter.
Royals starter — RH Edison Volquez.
