Cubs 6 - 2 Rockies
Final
  for this game

Baez powers Cubs past Rockies in rubber match

Aug 8, 2014 - 12:43 AM Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Javier Baez homered twice and Kyle Hendricks tossed eight solid innings as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Colorado Rockies, 6-2, in the rubber match of a three-game set on Thursday.

Baez, who homered in his MLB debut on Tuesday, finished 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored and Starlin Castro also homered for the Cubs, who earned their first series victory in Denver since sweeping a three-game set on Aug. 3-5, 2004.

"I thought he had some really good approaches," said Cubs manager Rick Renteria. "He was able to put his bat on the ball and do some damage."

Kyle Hendricks (3-1) surrendered just two runs on six hits and a walk with four strikeouts to earn the win.

Justin Morneau had two hits, an RBI and a run scored and Corey Dickerson also drove in a run for Colorado, which has dropped six of its last seven. Yohan Flande (0-4) gave up four runs on seven hits and a walk across six frames in defeat.

The Cubs opened the scoring in the second. Justin Ruggiano singled to left, moved to second on Welington Castillo's groundout and slid into home on Arismendy Alcantara's single to right.

Chris Valaika singled to lead off the third and moved to second on Hendricks' groundout. Two batters later, Baez hit an RBI single to left and moved to second on Dickerson's fielding error.

Hendricks retired the first nine batters before Charlie Blackmon's base hit to center opened the fourth. Blackmon took second on Josh Rutledge's flyout and scored on Morneau's double to deep left, making it a 2-1 game.

Nolan Arenado's bloop hit landed in front of Castro at short, who misplayed the ball to allow runners on the corners. Flande left the runners stranded by striking out Carlos Gonzalez and inducing an inning-ending flyout from Dickerson.

Baez and Castro led off the sixth by cranking back-to-back solo shots to left, giving the Cubs a 4-1 advantage.

"They score with the home run," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "If you keep them in the park, it makes it tougher on them. We weren't able to do that today."

In the home half, Morneau singled and Gonzalez walked with two outs before Dickerson's line drive to center plated Morneau to get the Rockies within two.

After Chris Coghlan walked to start the eighth, Baez smacked an 0-1 slider to right-center for his third home run of the series and a 6-2 lead.

Game Notes

The start of the game was delayed 39 minutes due to rain ... The Cubs won the season series against the Rockies, 5-2. It is their first series win against the Rockies since 2008 ... Colorado went 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base.






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