Rockies lose in 11 innings to Cubs, extend worst start in MLB’s modern era

The Rockies have lost of their games but their walk-off loss on Tuesday night was extra painful The Rockies played one of their more solid games of a rickety season got an excellent start from German Marquez and four stellar innings from their bullpen But they fell - to the Cubs in innings at chilly Wrigley Field and extended the worst start in MLB s modern era to - By losing the first two games of the series the Rockies lost the three-game series According to OptaSTATS the Rockies have now lost consecutive series dating back to last year That s the longest series losing streak in MLB history More from the misery index The Rockies - on the road lost their eighth consecutive tournament at Wrigley They re on pace to lose games blowing away the White Sox s record losses last season The Cubs stole Tuesday night s challenge literally They swiped six bases including two in the th off reliever Tyler Kinley Ghost runner Pete Crow-Armstrong swiped third and scored on Michael Busch s check-swing single to left to tie the competition - Jon Berti running for Busch stole second base and scored on Matt Shaw s walk-off bloop single to right The Cubs run all the time Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer advised Rockies TV in Chicago The take advantage of slow leg times by pitchers and tonight they used their legs a lot Schaeffer who is - since replacing Bud Black called the loss frustrating Colorado took a - lead in the top of the th on Brenton Doyle s RBI groundout to first scoring Ezequiel Tovar from third Tovar opened the inning at second base and advanced on catcher Hunter Goodman s single up the middle off Chris Flexen But it turns out that the Rockies needed more than one extra-inning run And per usual the Rockies lacked the big hits that would have made the difference The Rockies were for with runners in scoring position and their season average with RISP is fifth-lowest in the majors Goodman made a crucial redemptive throw in the eighth Chicago had already swiped four bases and Dansby Swanson reached on a four-pitch walk by Seth Halvorsen Swanson took off on Halvorsen s first pitch to Busch but Goodman s throw to Tovar at short was perfect and Swanson slid into the tag Halvorsen got Busch to ground out to first to end the inning Unfortunately for Colorado Tyler Freeman who reached on a one-out single in the ninth was erased trying to steal second on a perfect throw by Cubs catcher Reese McGuire Right-hander Ryan Pressly got Kyle Farmer to chop out to short for the third out For the third time in his last four starts Marquez gave the Rockies a solid start striking out a season-high six batters He allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings He whittled his ERA from on May to Not great by any means but the right-hander is making progress He generated swings and misses for the second consecutive challenge Marky s curveball was really good and he got specific punchouts with that Schaeffer noted His fastball command his two-seamer was good tonight He gave us a chance to win tonight which is fantastic Marquez s one rough inning was the third The Cubs scored two runs and sent seven hitters to the plate Two stolen bases the first by Shaw the second by Ian Happ set up both Chicago runs Seiya Suzuki delivered a single to left to outcome Shaw and Armstrong s RBI groundout to first scored Happ In the fourth Colorado s Ryan McMahon s two-out RBI single to left scored Jordan Beck who reached on a hit-by-pitch and then stole second It was just McMahon s fourth RBI on the road this season Colorado loaded the bases on a walk by Doyle and a bunt single by Mickey Moniak giving it a chance for a big inning But Michael Toglia flew out to center ending the inning Toglia for with a walk and a strikeout is hitting On the road he s hitting for with a strikeout rate Related Articles Rockies follow familiar formula in loss to Cubs fall to - Rockies - whiff times falter in the clutch in - loss to Yankees Rockies Journal Warren Schaeffer makes solid first impression record be damned As Rockies whiff at near-record rate Clint Hurdle says there s not enough angst about striking out Keeler Rockies even had Denver youth league coaches shaking their heads Saturday Colorado tied the battle - on Doyle s leadoff homer in the seventh off Cubs right-hander Cade Horton Doyle lined Horton s first-pitch slider feet to left It was Doyle s fifth homer but his first since April It was a good night for him that s a stepping stone Schaeffer revealed It was a step forward He was big for us tonight and we expect more of that Vodnik returns Right-handed reliever Victor Vodnik was activated off the -day injured list before Tuesday s event In a corresponding move Colorado optioned right-handed reliever Angel Chivilli to Triple-A Albuquerque Vodnik went on the IL on April retroactive to April with right shoulder inflammation The club initially thought he would return relatively swiftly but the soreness persisted He eventually received a cortisone shot Vodnik made two minor league rehab starts In nine appearances this season Vodnik has a ERA across just eight innings and hasn t pitched for the Rockies since April In appearances Chivilli posted a ERA Want more Rockies news Sign up for the Rockies Insider to get all our MLB analysis