Apr 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler (24) hits a RBI triple during the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs squared off in Sunday’s rubber match at Coors Field, the last home game before the Rockies’ big road trip to San Francisco and Los Angeles this week.
A two-run Dexter Fowler home run on an 0-2 pitch with two outs in the top of the ninth flipped a 5-4 lead for the Colorado Rockies into a 6-5 loss on Sunday afternoon.
More from Colorado Rockies News
- A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
- Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
- Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
- Colorado Rockies: 3 things we appreciated from Tuesday in San Francisco
- What Bill Schmidt’s comments mean for the Colorado Rockies in 2023
LaTroy Hawkins, after entering the game with a 5-3 lead, allowed three runs in just 0.2 innings, including Fowler’s two-run bomb, and the Cubs won the game and the series in Coors Field.
Jordan Lyles started for the Rockies and was good enough, allowing three runs in six innings, tossing 98 pitches (56 for strikes) and leaving with a 5-3 lead. He allowed five hits and three walks, but only two of the three runs he gave up were earned after the Rockies made an uncharacteristic three errors in the field behind him, including a tough fifth inning.
The Cubs took an early lead in the second when Lyles allowed a Miguel Montero double that scored Chris Coghlan and put the Cubs up 1-0.
In the bottom of the second, red-hot DJ LeMahieu hit a three-run triple to put the Rockies up 3-1 on Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks. Charlie Blackmon followed it up with a single that scored LeMahieu and put the Rox up 4-1.
That 4-1 lead held until the fifth, when Lyles worked into trouble. Hendricks singled home Arismendy Alcantara, and then after runners moved up to create a bases loaded situation amid some questionable defense, Anthony Rizzo hit a sacrifice fly that scored Hendricks and cut the Rockies lead to 4-3.
Just as they did in the second, though, the Rockies answered back immediately. In the bottom of the fifth, Carlos Gonzalez doubled home Blackmon to make the score 5-3.
After Lyles departed, Adam Ottavino came on in the seventh and, with Dexter Fowler on second base and two outs, he struck out Rizzo looking to end the threat in the seventh and hold the 5-3 lead.
Ottavino and Boone Logan combined on the eighth inning, and the Rockies entered the top of the ninth with the lead and the chance to win the series thanks to more solid bullpen work.
LaTroy Hawkins came on with one out in the ninth, and allowed a walk, and a hit, to give up a run and make the score 5-4.
With two outs, and Dexter Fowler at the plate, Hawkins surrendered the home run to Fowler.
In the bottom of the ninth, with two outs, Blackmon hit a double and brought Carlos Gonzalez to the plate with a chance to tie the game. After Blackmon stole third, the tying run was ninety feet away for CarGo to bring home.
CarGo popped out to end the game. The Rockies are now 4-2 on the season.
Next up, the Rockies head to San Francisco for the Giants’ home opener Monday afternoon, and after three by the bay, the Rox will spend Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Los Angeles for their first series against the Dodgers.