Colorado Rockies’ starting pitcher German Marquez struggled late versus the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. As a result, the Rockies lost to the Cubs, 9-8.
Despite Marquez’ struggles on the mound, Colorado’s offense battled all night long, tallying eight runs on 11 hits.
The Rockies have now lost back-to-back games after posting a 9-1 record on their season-long 10-game homestand.
Ahead are takeaways from the loss.
Marquez cruises then crumbles
Rockies’ starting pitcher German Marquez had a lukeawrm day on the mound. The start of Marquez’ outing was sharp and efficient, but as the game progressed, he showed cracks in his armor.
Marquez kept the Cubs’ hitters off balance through the first four innings, but started to fall apart in the fifth. He navigated his way past Javier Baez and Carlos Gonzalez to record the first two outs in the bottom of the fifth.
Marquez then surrendered back-to-back singles to Wilson Contreras and Jason Heyward. Marquez proceeded to groove a ball to Cubs’ utility man David Bote who crushed the first pitch of his at-bat over the fence in left field, establishing a 3-0 lead.
Despite the deficit, the Rockies rallied to score three runs of their own in the sixth inning.
Marquez’ struggles carried over into the bottom half of the sixth inning.
Kyle Schwarber started the inning with a double which was followed by Marquez beaning Kris Bryant. With two runners on and no out, Anthony Rizzo hit an RBI single to re-establish a lead for Chicago.
Marquez then fanned Baez before walking Gonzalez. Marquez’ command issues continued as he hit Contreras to force home another run and subsequently end his outing with the bases juiced.
Chris Rusin was called in relief of Marquez and proceed to surrender a bases-clearing triple to Bote, extending the Cubs’ lead, 8-3.
Marquez departed with a line of 5.1 innings pitched, allowing eight runs on seven hits while striking out five batters. The eight runs Marquez surrendered were the most in any start in his career.
Rockies’ offense breaks out late
Cubs’ starting pitcher Yu Darvish was sharp for the majority of his outing versus Colorado’s lineup, but a walk in the sixth inning ultimately led to his premature departure from the ballgame.
Darvish limited the Rockies’ offense to just one hit through five innings. Colorado snapped out of their slump with one out in the top of the sixth inning.
After Raimel Tapia grounded out to begin the inning, Darvish issued his second walk of the day to Trevor Story. The Rockies’ took advantage of the free pass with David Dahl driving a double to center field, prompting a mound visit.
Nolan Arenado proceeded to rip the first pitch of his at-bat to left field, scoring Story to put the Rockies on the board.
Arenado’s single extended his current hitting streak to 15 games.
Arenado’s single knocked Darvish out of the game. The 32-year-old hurler departed with a line of 5.1 innings pitched, allowing two runs on three hits while walking three batters and striking out five.
From there, the Rockies kept the pressure on Cubs’ relief pitcher Kyle Ryan.
Daniel Murphy proceeded to hit a dribbler down the first base line. Trying to get the lead runner at second base, Cubs’ first baseman Anthony Rizzo fired a bullet that slipped past the glove of shortstop Javier Baez, scoring another run to make the score 3-2 while allowing Arenado to advance to third base.
Youngster Ryan McMahon kept the line moving, poking a single to left field to score Arenado and tie the game at three runs apiece.
After Chicago established an 8-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Rockies quickly rallied in the seventh to put themselves within striking distance of Chicago.
Backed by an RBI single from Trevor Story, a bases-clearing triple from Dahl and sacrifice fly from Arenado, Colorado managed to pull within one run of the Cubs.
Although the Rockies’ offense displayed grit, their efforts were not enough to overcome the mighty Cubs.
Bote rips Rockies
Colorado product, David Bote ravaged his hometown team at Wrigley Field, collecting four hits and driving in seven RBIs to push the Cubs to victory.
Bote, who won a 3A State Championship with Faith Christian High School, collected his first hit, a single, in the bottom of the third inning.
Bote jumped on Marquez in the fifth inning, driving a three-run home run to left field to score the first runs of the ballgame and establish a lead for Chicago.
#BoteBomb!!! 3-0 #Cubs lead #cubsessed #iamcubsessed #chicagocubs #davidbote pic.twitter.com/kBbgKkD4AW
— iamCubsessed (@IamCubsessed) June 6, 2019
Bote’s impressive night continued in the bottom of the seventh inning when he hit a bases-clearing double to push the Cubs ahead 8-3. He added to his stellar evening in the bottom of the eighth inning, driving in yet another run via a double.
Bote has been swinging the bat well as of late, posting a .370 batting average with two doubles, three home runs and six RBIs in his last nine games entering Wednesday nights affair.