CHICAGO — The Rockies were playing on the road, and a breeze was blowing in at Wrigley Field. That often means the Rockies’ offense goes into hibernation.
Not so Friday. They used 10 singles as well as bunts and aggressive baserunning to beat the Cubs 6-1.
“It was a really good game all the way around,” manager Walt Weiss said. “We played a little bit of small ball today, and we ran the bases very well today. … It was a great team win.”
A prime example of the winning formula was Colorado’s two-run sixth inning. Carlos Gonzalez led off with an opposite-field single to left, extending his hitting streak to 20 consecutive games, dating to last season. Nolan Arenado beat out a bunt single down the third-base line, advancing Gonzalez to second. Gerardo Parra’s single scored Gonzalez, and Arenado raced all the way to third. That enabled him to score on Ryan Raburn’s double-play grounder.
“That’s the way we have to win on the road,” Arenado said. “Today the wind was blowing in, so you are not going to be able to hit the ball out of the yard, especially against that pitching.
“So if we can do those little things and get guys into scoring position and take advantage when guys get on base, good things can happen.”
Rockies Mailbag:
Wait and see for Hundley. Nick Hundley took a hard foul ball off his catcher’s mask in Wednesday’s home game against the Giants, and although the Rockies are calling his injury a forehead contusion, they want to make sure he doesn’t have a concussion. To that end, Hundley worked in the batting cage Friday morning and also ran the bases.
There were no immediate plans to put Hundley on the disabled list, but that could change by Saturday if he doesn’t feel right after going through baseball activities.
“We just have to take it day by day right now,” Hundley said.
Blackmon’s status. Center fielder Charlie Blackmon hopes his 15-day stint on the disabled list will be exactly that — a minimum of 15 days — meaning he could return April 29.
Blackmon was placed on the disabled list Thursday because of an injured left big toe, an injury the Rockies are calling turf toe. He has had it before — at the beginning of the 2012 season — and he knows the injury can linger if it’s not taken care of properly.
“Based on the history of this injury … we decided the 15-day disabled list was the best course of action,” Blackmon said Friday.
Blackmon is wearing a walking boot to protect the toe and help the healing process. In his absence, Parra will get most of the playing time in center field.
Asked when he will begin testing his foot, Blackmon said, “I don’t really know. To feel really good, I’d like to use most of the 15 days to make sure I get healed up.”
Looking ahead
Rockies RHP Christian Bergman (0-1, 12.00 ERA) at Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (2-0, 1.93), 12:20 p.m. Saturday; ROOT, 850 AM
Bergman, the Rockies’ long reliever, has two main goals while filling in for Jon Gray. One, keep his team in the game. Two, pitch at least five innings and save the bullpen. He’s lacked command in two relief assignments (three innings) this season, allowing four runs for a 12.00 ERA. Arrieta, last year’s National League Cy Young Award winner, has been tremendous in the early going, notching two quality starts. That extended Arrieta’s franchise record of quality starts to 22 consecutive games, dating to June 21 last season. He is 18-1 with a 0.95 ERA in those starts.
Sunday: Rockies RHP Tyler Chatwood (1-1, 4.38 ERA) at Cubs LHP Jon Lester (1-0, 2.77), 12:20 p.m., ROOT
Monday: Rockies RHP Jordan Lyles (0-1, 11.25) at Reds RHP Alfredo Simon (0-1, 9.53), 5:10 p.m., ROOT
Tuesday: Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa (1-1, 8.80) at Reds RHP Raisel Iglesias (1-1, 3.24), 5:10 p.m., ROOT
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
