The Cubs had a nice weekend as they were able to take two of three from the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
After suffering through their fair share of postponements, Joe Maddon’s team was finally able to put another series win under their belt. Though the series was not without its headaches.
Jose Quintana (2-1) took the mound for the northsiders as the Cubs went for the series win.
However, there was a scary moment for the team in the top of the first as Kris Bryant was hit in the head with a pitch by the Rockies’ German Marquez. Bryant left the game as he went through the concussion protocol. After the game, the tests came back negative, but it’s something the Cubs will have to monitor these next few games.
Despite losing Bryant early in the game, the Cubs put up a three-spot in the top of the first as the next four hitters all reached base.
It was an eventful first inning as Quintana got some help from his defense as Albert Almora made a tremendous catch in the first inning to rob DJ LeMahieu of a hit. It would not be Almora’s last highlight reel catch of the day.
The Cubs added another run in the second, but it was Almora who would once again be the highlight as he made another outstanding catch to take a hit away from Noel Cuevas. However, Almora still wasn’t done.
Already trailing 6-0, the Rockies would finally get on the board in the bottom of the third as they scored twice and trimmed the Cubs lead down to four.
For some reason the fifth inning has been the team’s problem inning as the game prior, Yu Darvish struggled despite cruising through the first four. Quintana seemed to lose it a bit and allowed two runs as the Rockies now found themselves back in the game.
Both teams put up a three-spot in the seventh inning. Despite a few walks by the Cubs bullpen in the eighth, Brandon Morrow came in to close the game in the ninth.
Almora would show up once again as he made his third great catch of the game, crashing into the center field wall to rob Charlie Blackmon of extra bases.
The Rockies managed to load the bases with two outs. The Rockies thought they pulled one within after a wild pitch by Morrow, but a quick reaction by Willson Contreras allowed Morrow to apply the tag before the runner touched home plate. After a review by the umpire crew, the runner was called out and the Cubs won the game by a score of 9-7.
MLB.com correspondent, Owen Perkins, spoke to Almora following the game.
He said, “I’m just trying to prevent some runs from scoring,” Almora said. “In this kind of field, you have a lot of room to run. I was just trying to be in the right spot at the right time.”
Javier Baez continues to be the Cubs best player as he had a productive series against the Rockies. He went 7-16 (.437 avg) with two home runs and seven runs batted in. He now leads the team in runs batted in and has carried the team the last week or so. That’s saying something considering the talent this team has.
Still, the concern postgame had to do with Kris Bryant after taking a fastball off the helmet.
When asked about how Bryant was doing postgame, Maddon said, “As good as could be expected. I have not heard of anything awful, but they’re still watching him. I have not heard the word ‘concussion’ yet.”
With the win, the Cubs improve their record to 10-9. They have an off day on Monday before starting a series against the Cleveland Indians. This will be the first time these two teams face off since the Cubs won the World Series there back in 2016.
Ernesto Hernandez
Sports Editor