The Chicago Cubs cruise to a 5-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies behind Yan Gomes’ two-run single in the ninth – Twin Cities

Yan Gomes concentrated solely on hitting the ball in the air.

A double steal by Dansby Swanson and Ian Happ put Gomes on second and third in the top of the ninth inning Monday night at Coors Field as the Chicago Cubs tried to erase the Colorado Rockies’ one-run lead.

Gomes saw three straight low sliders from newly appointed Rockies closer Tyler Kinley before hitting a high fastball to center field to set up the go-ahead two-run single. The Cubs survived an adventurous outing in the bottom of the ninth by Michael Fulmer, who recovered a one-out walk and struck out the batter to strike out the next two batters and secure the 5-4 victory.

“You try to simplify it as much as possible,” Gomes said. “I thought I swung the slider (1-1) well, I realized I was on it, and after that you just try not to do too much, just get the ball outfield and at least score achieve.” one.”

Nick Madrigal’s RBI single in the third off Rockies starter Kyle Freeland tied the game. Two innings later, Christopher Morel hit a 466-foot solo home run to center field to give the Cubs the lead. They added another run on Gomes’ single in the sixth inning.

With Adbert Alzolay on the 15-day injured list on Monday and Julian Merryweather unavailable as a pitcher after three days, coach David Ross switched to José Cuas and Drew Smyly in key spots.

Cuas struck out Kris Bryant and Ryan McMahon early in the seventh, but quickly found himself in trouble. The next four Rockies reached – single, hit batter, double and single – turning the Cubs’ two-run lead into a one-run deficit. Smyly entered the game with a runner on first and ended the frame by striking out Charlie Blackmon. Ross stuck with Smyly, who didn’t allow a run in 1 2/3 innings with three strikeouts.

“It’s a different mentality when you’re in the box, you can focus straight on your strengths, your best, and that’s just my best pitch, that’s my strength, when you hit it, you hit it, this one “Type of the thing,” Smyly said.

“As a substitute, it’s nice and exciting to come on late in the game and be able to really use your best pitch aggressively.”

Jordan Wicks held the Rockies to one run and three hits in six innings. Wicks began his big league career by allowing two earned runs or fewer in each of his first four starts. The first Cubs starter to do that was Juan Cruz (also four) from August 21 to September. 5, 2001.

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