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Jones, Cubs unleash frustration on Rockies in rout

Aug 10, 2007 - 5:32 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- Jacque Jones and the Chicago Cubs took out a series worth of frustration against the Colorado Rockies.

Jones tied a season high with four hits and four RBI as the Cubs blasted the Colorado Rockies, 10-2, on Thursday to snap a four-game skid.

Jason Kendall had three hits and two RBI as every starter except Derrek Lee recorded a hit for Chicago, which was just 2-for-33 with runners in scoring position in suffering a three-game sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros earlier this week.

"We put some runs on the board early, which we obviously didn't do in the Houston series," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "Good night for Jacque Jones, (Matt) Murton, all these guys did a nice job. Our best hitter (Lee) didn't have (a hit)."

Jones recorded an RBI single in the first, a two-run double in the second and a run-scoring base hit in a five-run third inning as Chicago built a 9-1 lead and chased rookie Ubaldo Jimenez (1-2) from the game.

"I just like playing, just like playing baseball," a rather subdued Jones said.

Mark DeRosa had a pair of hits and scored twice for Chicago (59-55), which moved within one-half game of idle Milwaukee (60-55) for first place in the National League Central Division.

The outburst was a welcome sight for the Cubs, who entered hitting just .221 and scored just eight runs in the three games since Alfonso Soriano suffered a torn quadriceps on Sunday.

Ted Lilly (13-5), who entered the game 1-1 with a 9.39 ERA against Colorado, enjoyed the run support. The lefthander allowed two runs and five hits in six innings but did labor, walking five and throwing a career-high 127 pitches.

"We were going to take Lilly out after 112 (pitches), but Woody (Kerry Wood) wasn't quite ready," Piniella said. "That's our high-pitch game of the year. (Lilly) was struggling on his curveball, but he made good pitches when he had to. He's throwing very well for us."

"This is definitely different pitching here (at Coors Field), it was noticeable," Lilly said. "The whole game, I was having trouble locating my fastball and curveball. There's an adjustment. ... As the game went on, it got a little better. I had to lower my sights, (the curve) was not going to break as much." One day after exploding on the Brewers for 19 runs, the Rockies had the tables turned on them.

With Chicago already ahead, 4-1, in the third, Matt Murton led off with a solo homer as the first five hitters reached to start the frame. DeRosa followed with a single and Mike Fontenot hit an RBI triple to center to make it 6-1.

Kendall drove in a run with a single and rookie Felix Pie doubled, chasing Jimenez.

"I couldn't get my fastball where I wanted it to be," Jimenez said. "I wasn't able to get it low. That's why they were hitting it."

Taylor Buchholz relieved Jimenez, who allowed nine runs - five earned - and nine hits in two-plus innings. Buchholz, who lost his spot in the rotation to Jimenez, allowed a sacrifice fly by Ryan Theriot and a single by Jones to make it 9-1.

Kendall capped the scoring with an RBI triple in the fourth.

Jeff Baker homered in the second and Ryan Spilborghs added a sacrifice fly in the fifth for Colorado (59-55), which saw its five-game home winning streak come to an end and fell 4 1/2 games behind Arizona (64-51) in the NL West.