Completely null | Author: Carlos
That’s how the Cubs’ combination of defense and offense was in this series. The Rockies won again today and took the series using their mastery of the longball at home.
Greg Maddux (10-10) allowed six runs and eight hits — including three homers — in six innings and failed to get his 316th win. He lost for the first time in six career decisions at Coors Field.
“They got me big time,” said Maddux, who had won his previous two starts. “You’ve got to keep the ball down here or you pay for it — and I did.”
Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez hit back-to-back homers in the ninth for Chicago. Neifi Perez and Jeromy Burnitz added two-run shots off Colorado closer Brian Fuentes.
“I thought Fuentes showed a lot of toughness to regroup and get Burnitz and (Todd) Walker,” Hurdle said.
Colorado took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Todd Helton’s sacrifice fly, and Mohr extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth with his 15th home run, on an 0-2 count. The homer followed Atkins’ leadoff single to center.
Perez and Burnitz homered and Nomar Garciaparra had an RBI double as the Cubs scored five times in the fifth against Colorado starter Jeff Francis.
Jerry Hairston doubled, and one pitch later Perez homered to left. Lee walked and scored on Garciaparra’s double to right and Burnitz hit a hanging curve on a 2-2 pitch over the scoreboard in right to put Chicago ahead 5-3.
Holliday and Atkins hit back-to-back homers in the Colorado fifth to take a 6-5. Holliday’s came after a two-out double by Helton.
“He left a changeup out over the plate,” Holliday said.
Added Atkins: “I was just trying to work counts and looking out over the plate. I stayed on a changeup and got good wood on it, and it went out.”
Garciaparra doubled with one-out in the seventh off Kim. Randy Williams replaced Kim, got Burnitz to ground out and fanned Corey Patterson.
Greg Maddux allowed six runs in six innings, striking out three. (David Zalubowski/AP)
- Game reviews | Time: 1:08 am (UTC+8)
