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Rockies once again turn to a righty to face Cubs

Aug 6, 2014 - 2:53 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Well here's something new.

The Colorado Rockies are expected to start a right-hander for the first time in 21 games on Wednesday night when they resume a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs.

The Rockies have started nothing but southpaws dating back to July 11 and their string of 20 straight contests started by a left-hander matched the longest such streak in the majors over the last 100 years, first set by the 1982 Kansas City Royals.

Lefty Brett Anderson kept the streak going last night, but left after three innings due to lower back spasms, and Colorado eventually lost the game 6-5 in extra innings.

The return of righty Jordan Lyles from a broken left hand will snap Colorado's run of lefties and he'll make his first start since June 4. He was off to a 5-1 start with a 3.52 earned run average in 12 starts before getting hurt.

The 23-year-old is 1-1 with a 3.91 ERA in four career meetings with the Cubs and is eager to get back on the mound.

"I'm just ready," said Lyles on MLB.com. "I've been sitting around watching, watching and it's finally here. I'm just ready to get after it. My excitement level is up there with an Opening Day start."

In addition to getting Lyles back, outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is expected to start for the first time since hurting his right ankle on Aug. 1. He did pinch-hit last night, drawing a walk.

Jake Arrieta takes the hill for the Cubs and will face the Rockies for a second straight outing. He ended a four-start winless streak (0-1) with a solid effort on Thursday, yielding a run on three hits and two walks over seven innings while striking out seven.

The righty took a perfect game into the fifth innings in his ever meeting with the Rockies, moving to 6-2 with a 2.11 ERA on the year.

Despite the recent lack of wins, the 28-year-old has not allowed more than three earned runs in 11 straight starts and in 15 of his 16 outings on the year.

"It's kind of one of those things where the more you go out there and continue to do it, it just seems like it's supposed to happen that way," said Arrieta of his early success. "It's a good feeling when you get into that groove and you're able to execute pitch after pitch."

The Cubs have not won a series at Coors Field since August 2004 and won for just the third time in their last 15 games in Colorado with last night's victory.

Prized infield prospect Javier Baez capped his major league debut with a tie- breaking homer in the 12th inning, salvaging a debut that got off to a rough start.

Baez, a 2011 first-round pick, was 0-for-5 with three strikeouts before taking Boone Logan's first pitch of the 12th inning over the wall in right-center field and giving Chicago its sixth victory in eight games.

Nolan Arenado had three hits, including a solo homer, for the Rockies, who suffered their fifth straight defeat.

"I felt like that game was lost in the sixth or seventh inning," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said after his club left 12 men on base.