Kyle Kendrick Struggled, Rafael Betancourt Stays Perfect

Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

You are not suppose to use all-inclusive statements in writing BUT we all knew our Colorado Rockies were not going to go 162-0. The pressure of the undefeated streak was released Saturday night with a loss to the Chicago Cubs.

Purple Linings (instead of silver linings cause purple is a Rockies colour)

Rafael Betancourt made his third appearance of 2015 and stayed perfect. In his first 3 innings of play after the long road back from Tommy John Surgery, the almost 40 year old, sports a line of zero’s – – zero ERA, 0 hits allowed, 0 walks allowed.
Corey Dickerson continued his torrid start to the season raising his batting average to .400. DJ LeMahieu had another 3-for-4 night at the dish raising his batting average to .524.
Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez stayed healthy.

A more traditional game recap is as follows:

Rockies starter Kyle Kendrick gave up runs in each of the first three innings. After a leadoff triple to start the game, one of the Cubs many uber-prospects Jorge Soler flew out deep enough to bring home former Rox player Dexter Fowler. Mr. Fowler would come up again in the bottom of the second and once again triple which would plate two more runs for the Cubs.

With the score 3-0 Cubs, Nolan Arenado would hit a 2 run homer in the bottom of the 2nd to chip into the lead. Kyle Kendrick would give up back-to-back homers in the top of the 3rd putting the Cubs up by three once again, 5-2.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Justin Morneau would hit his second single of the game, this time cashing in Troy Tulowitzki to make it 5-3 Cubs.

Kyle Kendrick walked his first batter of the 4th, give up a single to the 2nd and was bailed out of the inning with a double play. Mr. Kendrick’s first pitch of the 5th inning was hit where no defender could help him and it was 6-3 Cubs. Kendrick was brought out to pitch the 6th and promptly walked his first two batters.

Christian Friedrich was brought in to stop the bleeding but couldn’t. Cubs 9-3 after 6 innings. Friedrich was put back in for the 7th inning. Aside from a double to a pinch hitter with a name that sounds nothing like it spelled (Szczur pronounced Ceaser), Friedrich looked solid.

In the bottom of the 8th, Corey Dickerson collected a 2 RBI single to close the gap to 9-5 Cubs. With Dickerson on 2nd and DJ LeMahieu on 1st, “baby bull” Wilin Rosario was brought in as a pinch hitter. With flashbacks of his game winning homerun against Milwaukee running rampant in many minds, Rosario struck out swinging.

Charlie Blackmon would lead the 9th off with his 2nd double of the season but would be stranded on base. Final score, Cubs 9 Rockies 5.

Schedule