• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Four-run eighth sends Rockies past Cubs

Apr 18, 2011 - 1:17 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Dexter Fowler's two-run double kick-started a four-run eighth inning as Colorado claimed a 9-5 victory over the Cubs in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Carlos Gonzalez went 4-for-5 with a double, two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base, helping the Rockies rebound from Saturday's loss to win for the eighth time in nine contests.

Rafael Betancourt (1-0) recorded the final two outs of the eighth for the win.

Starlin Castro finished 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored as Chicago dropped its third game in five.

Marcos Mateo (0-1) suffered the loss, charged with four runs on five hits in the eighth.

He started the inning by allowing an infield single to Ryan Spilborghs and a double to Jose Lopez. Mateo looked like he might get out of the jam unscathed when he got back-to-back strikeouts, but allowed the hit by Fowler. Jonathan Herrera and Gonzalez followed with consecutive RBI singles to blow the game wide open.

"That epitomizes baseball here in Colorado. You're never out of it," Cubs manager Mike Quade said. "You get within one pitch of getting out of a [heck] of a mess in the eighth."

Huston Street faced the minimum in the ninth to finish the game in a non-save situation.

The Cubs jumped out to an early lead in the first when Marlon Byrd grounded into a double play to plate Castro.

The Rockies answered in the bottom of the inning with a Gonzalez double that scored Herrera and a Todd Helton single that plated Gonzalez. Seth Smith followed with a two-run homer to give Colorado a 4-1 lead.

Chicago scored in the next three innings to gain a slight edge.

Geovany Soto singled to score Carlos Pena in the third, and the Cubs struck for two in the third. Aramis Ramirez's single scored Castro, and Darwin Barney then came home when Pena grounded into what could have been an inning-ending double play. But Herrera, the second baseman, threw the ball over Helton's head at first.

Castro's RBI double in the fourth gave the Cubs a 5-4 lead.

Colorado quickly evened the game in its half of the inning -- Smith led off with a double and scored after consecutive groundouts.

The tie score resulted in a no-decision for both starters. Chicago's Ryan Dempster lasted five innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four.

Colorado's Alan Johnson made his major league debut, a spot start made necessary by the Rockies' doubleheader with the New York Mets on Thursday. He allowed five runs -- four earned -- on six hits and three walks, and struck out three.

The game stayed even until Fowler's double in the eighth put the Rockies in front for good.

"It's a nice start I'll tell you that. The fashion that we've done it makes it more impressive. Today's game is obviously what we've been doing all year. Staying in games and winning them late," said Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.

Game Notes

Colorado took three of five from the Cubs last season...Herrera extended his hitting streak to nine games...Chicago went 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.