Abbatacola: Cubs Drop To 10-13
Todd Helton hit two home runs for the visiting Colorado Rockies as they beat the Cubs 4 to 3. It was Helton's 27th multi-homer game of his career.
Cubs' starter, James Russell, took the loss dropping his record to 1-3 and raising his ERA to 8.31. He threw 82 pitches in four innings of work surrendering 3 homers for the second consecutive start. Manager, Mike Quade, has made it clear that he believes Russell is best suited to pitch out of the bullpen. At this time though, he is the best option the ballclub has for a fifth starter. Unless a better option presents itself in the minor league system, Russell will most likely make his fourth start of the year in Arizona on Sunday.
The Rockies, Ty Wigginton, added three hits including a double and a solo home run. Colorado starter, Jorge De La Rosa, had a shakey first inning allowing two runs and facing seven Cubs batters. Only one of those runs was earned as shortstop, Troy Tulowitzki, committed his second error in consecutive games to allow Darwin Barney to score the Cubs second run. Starlin Castro scored the other run on a Jeff Baker single. The utility player made the start at first for Carlos Pena and hit fifth. De La Rosa improved his numbers against the Cubs to 4-0 with a 1.63 ERA in seven career games.
The Cubs, Alfonso Soriano, made it exciting in the ninth inning when he led-off with a home run off of closer, Huston Street, drawing his team within one run of Colorado. Street would then get Reed Johnson to pop out and Kosuke Fukudome and Starlin Castro to ground out to end the game. It was Street's second consecutive save in the series.
The Cubs look to avoid the sweep tomorrow with a scheduled first-pitch of 1:20. They send Casey Coleman (1-1 7.43) to the mound against Jhoulys Chacin (3-1 2.67).
