Games 13, 14

7-7

The Cubs, on Friday, opened up a weekend series with the hottest team in baseball....the Colorado Rockies.

The Rockies, winners of ten of their first twelve games, own the best record in baseball at the start of the game. They would only improve on that record by the end of the game.

The Cubs sent Matt Garza (0-2) to the mound. According to Len Casper and Bob Brenly's twitter account, "Since 1946, only Rick Sutcliffe had more strikeouts (23) in his first two starts than Matt Garza (20)."

So, even though Garza is mowing down opposing hitters, he still has yet to pick up a win. This game would be no different. The tough luck for Cubs pitchers continued with Garza getting tagged for four runs in the second inning on a base clearing triple by Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta, who would then score on a Starlin Castro throwing error. The Rockies would hang another earned run on Garza when Todd Helton hit a fifth inning RBI single for the games final run.

Rockies pitcher Jhoulys Chacin (3-0) went the distance for his first major league shut out. Chacin's line for the game: 9 innings, 6 Hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts.

Garza (0-3) settled down after the second inning but the Cubs bats never caught up. Garza's final line: 6 innings, 7 hits, 5 runs (all earned), 2 walks, 5 strikeouts.

Game two of the series

Casey Coleman (0-0) vs Jason Hammel (1-0)

The theme song for this Cubs season should be "Roller Coaster of Love" (version of your choice)

Casey Coleman may be the real deal...either that or the Cubs are destined to only win every other day! The second year pitcher came out and held the streaking Rockies to only one run through his five and two third innings of work on the way to this first win of the season.

Cubs bats got working early and often in this one. Alfonso Soriano started the scoring in the second inning with a double to center field, one of three hits on the day, that scored Carlos Pena.  Soriano would add a solo home run in the sixth inning, his fifth of the year.

Darwin Barney who is batting .313 on the season had an RBI ground out in the fifth driving in Starlin Castro. After Soriano's sixth inning shot Castro would connect for a three run bomb off of reliever Felipe Paulino. Aramis Ramirez would then drive in Darwin Barney on a single and then come home on a single by Koske Fukudome for the Cubs final run of the game.

The Rockies would get two final runs in bottom of the 8th inning on a Chris Iannetta 2 run home run off John Grabow.

Carlos Marmol worked the ninth in a none save situation to help end the Rockies eight game winning streak. He would strike out one, while giving up one hit.

Rockies drop to 11-3 while the Cubs hit the .500 mark again at 7-7.  Through fourteen games the Cubs have only lost two in a row one time (Brewers) but have only managed to win twice in a row one time (Diamondbacks).   Casey Coleman improves to 1-1 on the season. Jason Hammel drops to 1-1.