Chicago Cubs

Cubs Lose Fourth Straight as Rockies Cruise to 10-4 Victory

Ryan Hanigan hit a two-out, bases-clearing single as part of a six-run third inning, Mark Reynolds homered for a fourth straight game and the Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago Cubs 10-4 on Tuesday in a day-night doubleheader opener.

Reynolds also added two RBI singles as every player in the starting lineup, including pitcher Antonio Senzatela, had a hit for the NL West-leading Rockies. Reynolds is batting .533 through four games on this 10-game homestand.

Senzatela (5-1) struggled with his command over six innings but wiggled out of several tough spots. The hard-throwing rookie had three walks and four strikeouts.

Jake Arrieta (4-2) was removed after 3 2/3 innings — his shortest stint as a Cub. He surrendered nine hits and nine runs, but just five were earned.

The Cubs got a good night's rest when the game Monday was rained out. They arrived in town earlier that day after an 18-inning loss to the New York Yankees that lasted 6 hours, 5 minutes. The team needed a little break, even if it meant playing two on Tuesday.

"Just different when you have that swimming feeling in your cranium. It's difficult to focus," said manager Joe Maddon, whose team lost its fourth straight.

Arrieta pitched a clean first inning, which usually is a positive sign. Coming in, he had allowed 10 earned runs in the opening inning and just eight earned from the second on.

This time, the third inning led to his undoing. He faced 10 batters, allowing six runs and six hits. And he was helped when left fielder Kyle Schwarber threw put Carlos Gonzalez at the plate.

A costly play in the inning was an error on shortstop Javier Baez, who threw the ball away trying to get DJ LeMahieu crossing from second to third on a grounder.

Schwarber nearly kept the damage to a minimum when he dove for Hanigan's shallow blooper. But the ball just eluded his reach, and the bases cleared.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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