No late-night drama, no gnashing of teeth, no woe is me. Just a solid win for the Rockies on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.
The Rockies rode rookie first baseman TJ Rumfield’s two-run home run in the fourth inning to beat the Cubs 5-2 and snap a 10-game losing streak at Wrigley Field.
Colorado’s bullpen, which suffered a nightmarish meltdown in a 5-4 loss to the Cubs on Monday night, delivered 4 1/3 scoreless innings, and Jaden Hill pitched a perfect ninth to record his first career save.
Key moments: The fourth inning was huge. Trailing 2-0, Colorado got a leadoff single from Jake McCarthy, an RBI double from Willi Castro, and Rumfield’s homer to take a lead it didn’t relinquish.
Who’s hot: Outfielder Jake McCarthy, finally healthy after a stomach illness, hit 3 for 4 and scored a run in the fourth. He’s hitting .291 with a .784 OPS.
Starter Ryan Feltner rebounded from a poor start in his last game and a rocky start on Tuesday night to put Colorado in a position to win. The right-hander gave up two runs on six hits, with three walks and seven strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.
In Colorado’s 9-3 loss to the Cubs at Coors Field last week, he gave up six runs on four hits across 4 1/3 innings. Tuesday night, Feltner served up a leadoff homer to sizzling-hot Pete Crow-Armstrong and gave up another run in the second before settling in.
Rookie center fielder Cole Carrigg made a terrific catch in center field in the eighth, going into the ivy to rob Michael Busch of extra bases.
Who’s not: Carrigg, at the plate. He went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts, though he did draw a walk and steal second base in the eighth.
Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar continues to play excellent defense, but his struggles at the plate continue. He went 0 for 3 with a K, though he did draw a walk and score a run in the fifth. Tovar has struck out at least once in 16 straight games, the second-longest streak of his career. He fanned in 18 consecutive games from Aug. 8-29, 2024.
Worth noting: Outfielder Mickey Moniak is on the road back from injury. He’s been on the 10-day injured list since May 22 with right ankle tendinitis, but he’s making progress. He’s scheduled for Triple-A Albuquerque rehab games on Thursday through Saturday. He’ll return to Denver on June 21 to be evaluated by the medical staff, manager Warren Schaeffer told reporters in Chicago.
Pitching probables
Wednesday: Rockies LHP Sean Sullivan (0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Cubs RHP Javier Assad (4-1, 3.99), 6:05 p.m.
Thursday: Off day
Friday: Pirates RHP Bubba Chandler (2-7, 4.76) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-7, 7.98), 6:40 p.m.
Saturday: Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (6-6, 2.85) at Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (7-4, 4.79), 7:10 p.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
