by Marie A. Dumayac
Eagle News Service, Denver
DENVER, Colorado (Eagle News) — The Colorado Rockies are having an incredible season.
This is their first 7-game win streak since April 2011.
In a turnaround from previous seasons, the Rockies are now sitting on 1st place in the National League, 2nd in the whole league.
They are the first NL team to win 41 games, and the only NL team that has more than 40 wins so far.
They also have an outstanding 24-10 record on the road.
The Chicago Cubs couldn’t get much going against rookie Jeff Hoffman who only gave up 4 hits, 1 walk, and 1 run in over 6 innings.
Hoffman had a shutout going for him and the Rockies until the 7th inning.
On his route to his 4th win of the season (he’s 4-0 in the season), he struck out 8.
The Rockies, meanwhile, got a quick start on their former teammate, Eddie Butler.
Leadoff hitter Charlie Blackmon started the game with a single.
DJ LeMahieu followed with a double, and Blackmon scored easily as he was taking off on the pitch.
Mark Reynolds continues his remarkable season with a double and scoring LeMahieu.
In fact, Reynolds had a four-hit game; he only needed a triple to hit for the cycle.
Along with Reynolds hitting a home run, red-hot Blackmon hit a homer as well.
The Cubs tried to get something going in the 7th.
Down 4-0 with 1 out, Jason Heyward, Albert Almora, and Willson Contreras hit singles 3 in-a-row.
The Cubs scored 1 in the inning but couldn’t capitalize more than that.
Since the Cubs couldn’t capitalize on their base runners, the Rockies wanted to do just that.
Lead extended in 9th
In the 9th, the Rockies extended their lead to help seal their victory.
Raimel Tapia had a leadoff double in the 9th, and Tony Wolters followed with a walk.
Pinch-hitter Carlos Gonzalez couldn’t move the runners, however. He hit an infield fly rule but Tapia was moving and out at 3rd; Wolters moved to 2nd.
The Cubs then intentionally walked Blackmon.
After Blackmon’s intentional walk, LeMahieu singled, moving Wolters to 3rd and Blackmon to 2nd.
With the bases loaded, Nolan Arenado hit a double (21 in the season, 2nd in doubles in the league) and clearing the bases.
Wolters, Blackmon, and LeMahieu all have scored; Rockies lead 7-1.
The Rockies continued their damage in the 9th.
Reynolds singled and Arenado moved to 3rd.
With Ian Desmond batting, Reynolds moved to 2nd on defensive indifference.
And on a wild pitch, Arenado scored and Reynolds moved to 3rd.
After the wild pitch, Desmond singled, bringing Reynolds home. Rockies finally finished the inning but finishing it 9-1.
Prior to the 5 RBI’s in the 9th, Arenado and Reynolds were 0-4 in the game.
With Arenado’s and Reynolds’ hits in the 9th, all the Rockies’ starters, except for the pitcher, all had a base hit in the game.
In total, the Rockies had 14 hits in the game.
Functioning team
Bud Black, the Rockies’ manager, likes seeing the Rockies functioning fully as a team.
“A lot of contributors today, we’ve had 14 hits. Spreading it around, teamwin, good bullpen day as well,” he said.
The Colorado Rockies are looking to sweep last year’s World Series champs, Chicago Cubs, on this four-game series.
Rookie sensation Antonio Sentazela (8-2, 3.56 ERA) is looking to get his 9th win in the season, on June 11.
This will be his first career start at Wrigley Field.
Sentazela, who is leading the team with 8 wins, is looking to become NL’s first nine-game winner.
Jake Arrietta (6-4, 4.46 ERA), however, will attempt to stop the Rockies from sweeping his team.
Game starts at 12:20 pm MT.