Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Tsuyoshi Wada pitched seven innings to lead
the Chicago Cubs to a 4-1 win over the Colorado Rockies to begin a four-game
series.
Wada (1-1) notched his first career win after giving up just one run on five
hits with a walk and six strikeouts in seven innings for the Cubs, who had
lost four of five coming in. Anthony Rizzo drove in two in the win.
"I thought he had a really good mix of pitches out there," said Chicago
manager Rick Renteria about Wada. "He was using his fastball effectively and
his secondary pitches were locating really well."
Yohan Flande (0-3) is still looking for his first win after allowing two runs
on four hits in 6 2/3 innings for the Rockies, who have lost their past two.
"He did an outstanding job for us tonight," said Colorado manager Walt Weiss.
"He went deep in the game and that helped because our bullpen is kind of
banged up right now."
The game stayed scoreless until the fourth inning as Emilio Bonifacio singled
and Arismendy Alcantara followed with a double. Rizzo's groundout plated one,
and a sacrifice fly from Justin Ruggiano scored the second for a 2-0 lead.
Colorado had left a man on second in the third and fifth innings, before
finally pushing a run through in the sixth.
With one out, back-to-back singles from Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu left
runners at the corners before a single to center from Nolan Arenado with two
outs made it a one-run game. Wilin Rosario followed with a groundout to end
the inning.
Brandon Barnes led off with a walk in the seventh for the Rockies, but Ben
Paulsen hit into a double play and Charlie Culberson followed with a fly out
to end the frame.
Chicago put the game away in the eighth as John Baker scored on an errant
pickoff throw from Nick Masset with runners on the corners, and Rizzo added
an RBI single later in the inning.
Game Notes
Colorado was just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position as the team left
five men on base ... Chicago and Colorado split six meetings last season.