Rockies/Cubs May 29th-April 1st

[Old Sweater]

edit: the games are Thursday May 29th thru Sunday June 1st>had a senior moment

Game 1 Thursday May 29th 6:05 MT

TV: FSN-HD | Radio: KOA 850
TV: CSN Chicago | Radio: WGN 720


Wrigley Field





_______Rockies 20-33 at Cubs 32-21_______


Jeff Francis 1-5 6.18 vs Jason Marquis 2-3 4.97_______




Rockies: Francis displayed rushed mechanics and no fastball command -- which eliminated his changeup -- during a five-run, 37-pitch first inning in Saturday afternoon's loss to the Mets. Francis gave up just one run the rest of the way, and he lasted six innings. He finished by tying his season high with eight strikeouts. Still, innings like the first on Saturday are not what the Rockies need from their No. 1 pitcher, who says he feels healthy but is making mistakes in his windup and delivery.




Cubs: Marquis had beaten the Pirates twice this season, but he couldn't pull it off a third time. He did not get a decision in his last start against Pittsburgh, giving up three runs on seven hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings. Against the Rockies last year, Marquis was 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA. Pitching at Wrigley should be a little bit of an advantage for Marquis, who is winless in four road starts. He's 2-2 with a 5.14 ERA in five home games.




The Rockies acquired outfielder Dustan Mohr from the independent league Wichita Wingnuts and assigned him to Triple-A Colorado Springs. The 31-year-old outfielder last played in the Major Leagues on July 8, 2007, in Kansas City as a member of the Rays. Mohr played in 98 games for the Rockies in '05. ... Manuel Corpas has not allowed a run in seven games. Over that span, his ERA has dipped from 7.78 to 5.81.




Jim Edmonds sat against a right-handed starting pitcher for the first time on Wednesday. Piniella said he made the move due to Edmonds' .167 career average (5-for-30) against Los Angeles' Derek Lowe. ... Daryle Ward did not take batting practice Wednesday and still has soreness in his back. "It's not going as fast as I want it to," said Ward, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a bulging disc. ... Special assistant Ivan DeJesus worked with players on bunting before Wednesday's game after struggles in the department on Tuesday. ... Cubs general manager Jim Hendry will watch Rich Hill start for Triple-A Iowa on Friday. ... Matt Murton went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and three runs scored in Triple-A Iowa's 10-8 victory over Memphis on Tuesday. Murton leads the Cubs organization with a .362 batting average.




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[Old Sweater]

Game 2 Friday May 30th 12:20 MT

Radio: KOA 850
TV: CSN Chicago | Radio: WGN 720


Wrigley Field




_______Rockies 20-34 at Cubs 33-21_______


_______Aaron Cook 7-3 2.82 vs Ted Lilly 5-4 5.23_______




Rockies: After dropping his past two decisions, Cook regained his form against the Mets that helped him reel off a club-record six straight wins earlier this season. Cook was in complete control from the first inning against New York, pitching the first complete game by a Rockies pitcher since Aug. 27 of last year. He gave up just one run on four hits, threw 118 pitches (72 for strikes) and recorded 16 groundball outs. Cook has had success against the Cubs in the past (he's 3-1 with a 2.32 ERA) and had one of his best outings of the year against the Cubs in April, giving up two runs on four hits in victory. This will be Cook's first start at Wrigley Field




Cubs: Lilly did not get a decision in his last start against the Pirates, which was another extra-inning loss for the Cubs. The lefty gave up three homers for the first time since doing so in back to back starts one year ago. Two of those were by light-hitting Luis Rivas. For the game, Lilly was charged with four runs on 10 hits and two walks over six innings. He was mad at himself after the game for not going deeper -- the bullpen was overworked -- and at some mistakes in pitch selection.




Rockies center fielder Willy Taveras' two-run single with the bases loaded in the sixth inning of Thursday's 8-4 loss to the Cubs gave him multiple RBIs in a game for the first time this season. ... Rookie Ian Stewart struck out in the ninth inning on Thursday, and fell a home run shy of the cycle. ... The Rockies have given up a Major League-worst 55 first-inning runs. ... Left-hander Glendon Rusch, who has given up one run in 11 innings at Triple-A Colorado Springs after being released by the Padres earlier this season, will likely start Saturday against the Cubs, although the Rockies haven't made an official announcement.




Daryle Ward has yet to resume baseball activities, and said his right leg felt more fatigued than his left after some light running. "It's frustrating because I was really treating myself well and taking care of my body good and running," said Ward, on the 15-day disabled list with a bulging disk. "It's frustrating to see situations where you know you would hit. I can feel the insides in me tingle when a situation comes up and I'm not able to go up there." ... Carlos Zambrano showed no ill effects from his 130-pitch outing on Wednesday. He was kicking a soccer ball around Wrigley Field on Thursday. "One hundred thirty pitches for a big strong kid from Venezuela -- once in a while, and I'm not talking about doing it four, five times in regularity, but once in a while the game dictates you need to do that," Piniella said. "Last night it dictated it, so we let him go." ... Expect Derrek Lee to get Sunday off. "I've got [Micah] Hoffpauir who could play first base," Piniella said. "But don't tell Lee." The Cubs first baseman has insisted he doesn't need a break. ... Jeff Samardzija gave up three runs, two earned, on two hits and one walk over six innings in Double-A Tennessee's 8-1 loss to Carolina on Wednesday. ... The Cubs and Chicago Blackhawks are exploring the possibilty of playing an NHL game at Wrigley Field. "I couldn't name you five hockey players," Mark DeRosa said. "I've never been to a hockey game. I have the utmost respect -- I think they're probably right up there as the most phenomenal athletes to be able to play the sport on ice, on skates, but I just have never gotten into it." ... The Cubs' game in Los Angeles on June 8 will be televised on ESPN, and start at 7:05 p.m. CT.



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[Old Sweater]

Game 3 Sat May 31st 11:05 MT

TV: FSN-HD | Radio: KOA 850
TV: CSN Chicago | Radio: WGN 720


Wrigley Field





_______Rockies at Cubs_______


_______Glendon Rusch 0-0 -.-- vs Ryan Dempster 6-2 2.56_______




Rockies: De La Rosa was ineffective in his last outing against the Phillies. The left-hander walked Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino in the first inning and gave up a three-run homer to Chase Utley. In 3 1/3 innings, De La Rosa allowed four hits, seven runs (six earned) while walking three and striking out three. He threw 77 pitches, 43 for strikes and did not have command of his pitches. As a result, De La Rosa's ERA climbed from 7.78 to 9.00.




Cubs: Dempster posted his eighth quality start of the season in his last outing against the Dodgers. The right-hander gave up seven hits over seven innings, the fourth time in his 11 starts he's pitched seven. Dempster also struck out three and escaped some tough jams. He's made the conversion from closer to starter look easy, but Dempster deserves credit for the hard work he's put in.


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Struggling left-hander Jorge De La Rosa, as expected, was pulled from the rotation and won't make his next scheduled start Saturday at Chicago.

Manager Clint Hurdle didn't name a replacement, but it's expected to be LHP Glendon Rusch, who has allowed one run in 11 innings in two starts at Class AAA Colorado Springs and last pitched Sunday. Rusch, an 11-year major league veteran, began the season with San Diego but signed a minor league deal with the Rockies after being released.

[Old Sweater]

Game 4 Sunday June 1st 12:20 MT

TV: my20 | Radio: KOA 850
TV: WGN | Radio: WGN 720


Wrigley Field





_______Rockies at Cubs_______


Ubaldo Jimenez 1-5 5.37 vs Sean Gallagher 2-1 4.50_______




Rockies: Jimenez had his worst outing of the season Tuesday at Philadelphia. Jimenez labored through 36 pitches in the first inning and wound up giving up 10 hits and seven earned runs in four innings. Jimenez struck out four, walked two and threw 94 pitches, 57 for strikes. Despite giving up seven runs, the Rockies offense once again was unable to give him any run support.




Cubs: Gallagher is making a case to stay in the rotation. The right-hander held the Dodgers to one run on four hits over seven innings and picked up the win in the longest outing of his young career. He picked a perfect night to pitch, as the temperature was 42 degrees with a wind chill that made it feel like 35. He wore short sleeves, so it must not have bothered him. Neither did a comebacker by Andre Ethier in the first that deflected off the middle finger of his right hand.



In his first Minor League rehabilitation start for a strained right shoulder, Rockies right-hander Jason Hirsh gave up one run and three hits in three innings for Triple-A Colorado Springs at Salt Lake on Friday. He walked five. It was Hirsh's first official game action since suffering a broken leg during a game last Aug. 7; however, he did throw two Spring Training innings before the shoulder problem flared up. ... Right fielder Brad Hawpe, on the disabled list since May 24 with a strained right hamstring, is scheduled to join Colorado Springs on Monday to begin a rehab assignment. ... The Rockies, 8-22 away from Coors Field, have lost 17 of their last 19 on the road.




rmol has pitched three straight days and will likely also be rested in the series finale. ... Rich Hill gave up three runs in three innings for Triple-A Iowa on Friday, walking three and striking out five in his first start since coming off the Minor League disabled list and recovering from back spasms. Felix Pie went 2-for-5 with a triple and a home run in a 10-3 victory against Memphis.



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