The Chicago Cubs secured a 9-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, breaking free from a potential sweep at Coors Field. This win propelled them back over the .500 mark. Key to their success was Alex Bregman’s seventh-inning two-run homer, one of four extra-base hits by the Cubs during the game.
Seiya Suzuki sparked momentum with a grand slam off Rockies starter Ryan Feltner in the fourth inning, pushing the Cubs to a 4-1 lead. They extended their advantage with two more runs in the fifth, and catcher Carson Kelly added a solo home run in the eighth. Bregman’s homer, his first this season with a runner on base, was a highlight of his performance despite his dissatisfaction with missed opportunities earlier in the game.
The whole series was better, still missed too many pitches in the heart of the plate,
Bregman said. Normally I have a 1.000 to 1.200 OPS in the middle of the plate. Right now, it’s not there. It’s god-awful. So today was a step in the right direction.
The Cubs had not hit three home runs in a single game since April 25. Their offense had been struggling with a previous five-game streak scoring three or fewer runs, tying their longest such streak of the season. Edward Cabrera’s pitching also contributed significantly. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing only two runs from solo homers.
Manager Craig Counsell acknowledged the surprise at their recent offensive struggles, remarking, We have very good offensive players. It’s surprising, absolutely, and challenging. We’re all trying to do our best to put it in the right direction.
He emphasized the inherent talent of the team, which fosters optimism despite the challenges.
Suzuki’s home run seemed necessary as much as Bregman’s, further highlighted by his recent scoring streak. His grand slam on Thursday extended an eight-game hitting streak with a .308/.379/.654 line, collecting three home runs and seven RBIs.
Suzuki expressed relief after his grand slam, saying via interpreter Edwin Stanberry, I felt like I haven’t been able to help out our pitchers. There’s more sort of frustration that I had towards myself, not hitting in those opportunities, and I was finally able to get that hit.
Bregman echoed the need for growth, noting, Happy to contribute to help our team win a baseball game. We’ve got a lot of work to do, and we’ve got to be better. We’re way better of a ball club than we’ve shown.
Overall, Thursday’s game marked a positive shift for the Cubs, providing a boost of confidence as they look to build on this win and establish a winning streak.
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