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Volstad takes aim at win No. 1 in finale with Rockies

Aug 26, 2012 - 2:51 PM (Sports Network) - Right-hander Chris Volstad gets crack No. 14 at win No. 1 for 2012 on Sunday for the Chicago Cubs, who host the Colorado Rockies for the third and final game of a weekend series at Wrigley Field.

A 12-game winner with the then-Florida Marlins in 2010, Volstad tumbled to five wins in 29 starts with the Marlins last season before an offseason trade to Chicago for Venezuelan pitcher Carlos Zambrano.

Volstad was 0-6 with a 7.46 earned run average through his initial eight starts of the season before a stint at Triple-A Iowa. He's since been back and forth between the majors and minors, losing three more decisions on the big- league level in five starts.

His last outing, on Aug. 19 in Cincinnati, resulted in a no-decision after he allowed four runs on seven hits in six innings.

The Cubs lost the game, 5-4, and have won just one of the 13 games in which he's pitched this season.

Lifetime against Colorado, he's 2-3 with a 5.64 ERA in five games.

The Rockies go with righty Jhoulys Chacin, who tossed six innings for his first 2012 win in his last start.

The 24-year-old Venezuelan had been 0-3 with a 7.30 ERA in five outings before going six innings against the New York Mets and allowing four hits and a single run in a 6-2 victory.

The effort lowered his ERA by more than a run, to 6.16.

It was his first start in the big leagues since May 1.

An 11-game winner in 31 starts last season, Chacin is 1-2 lifetime against the Cubs with a 4.15 ERA across 21 2/3 innings.

On Saturday, Andrew Brown hit his first major league home run and Josh Rutledge hit a two- run blast for Colorado, which won, 4-3, for its sixth victory in seven games.

"It was a nice milestone," Brown said. "Hopefully it's not the last. To come where we needed this win after yesterday's game, it was a great feeling to come through at the time. It is a memory and I'll never forget it."

Alex White was tagged for three runs - two earned - on five hits with four strikeouts over four innings. Carlos Torres (3-1) tossed 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win.

Brett Jackson homered for the second straight day, but the Cubs have dropped four of their last five contests.

Brooks Raley, who was recalled from Triple-A Iowa prior to the game, surrendered two runs in five innings while striking out four to pick up a no- decision.

Manuel Corpas (0-1) gave up the tying and winning runs in 1 1/3 innings of work to take the loss.

"I thought (Raley) did a nice job," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "Corpas gives up the solo home run and we couldn't pull off a couple double plays that were sitting right in our laps right there. It kind of changed the game around."

Before this weekend, the teams had last met in 2011, when the Rockies won the season series, 4-2. The Cubs last won the series in 2008.