Castro commits 3 errors, Rockies beat Cubs 5-3

[April 26, 2011]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Starlin Castro's three errors in the second inning didn't even quite cost the Cubs the game.

It was that fourth one, by pitcher Matt Garza, that was really costly. His errant throw opened the door for the Rockies to score the go-ahead run and Colorado beat Chicago 5-3 on a misty and windy Monday night at Wrigley Field.

"We lost tonight because couldn't throw the ball to first base," said Garza. "If I throw the ball to first base, it's still a 3-3 ballgame and we're still playing."

Dexter Fowler hit a triple, walk and scored a run for Colorado. Huston Street pitched the ninth for his eighth save in eight chances.

Rockies starter Esmil Rogers (3-1) gave up eight hits and four walks, but just three runs in 5 1-3 innings. Matt Lindstrom and Rafael Betancourt combined for 2 2-3 innings of scoreless relief.

"Our bullpen once again stepped up big time," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said.

Only one of the five runs scored against Garza (0-3) were earned. He gave up three hits and a walk in six innings.

Troy Tulowitzki hit a grounder to Castro leading off the second, reaching base when he bobbled the ball while trying to transfer it to his throwing hand.

Todd Helton struck out and Seth Smith singled before Jose Lopez's grounder popped out of Castro's glove, letting Tulowitzki score.

Now with Smith on second and Lopez on first, Chris Iannetta hit a grounder that Castro fielded cleanly.

His throw, though, sailed past Barney at second base and into the Cubs' bullpen along the right field line.

Smith and Lopez came all the way home to tie the game at 3.

"After I caught the ball it was kind of wet and I tried to hurry," Castro said through an interpreter. "It was just one of those things."

When Castro finally fielded a grounder and threw out Rogers at first, he got a sarcastic cheer. Fowler struck out to end the inning.

"If you're in a hurry with a wet pig, you're in trouble," Cubs manager Mike Quade said.

One more mistake let the Rockies take the lead.

In the fifth inning, with men on first and second, Jonathan Herrera laid down a bunt. Garza's throw to Barney at first was wide and up the right-field line, allowing Rogers to score. Fowler reached third and later came home on Carlos Gonzalez's groundout.

"Obviously the conditions were pretty tough to play in tonight," Tracy said. "We handled the ball with the conditions of the field. I don't think you can ask a group of players to handle the ball any better with the field conditions, as wet as it was."

Castro was the first Cubs player to have three errors in an inning since Jaime Navarro did it on Aug. 18, 1996 against Houston.

The major league record for errors in an inning by a shortstop is four. It's happened three though not since Lennie Merullo did it Sept. 13, 1942. He later played on the last Cubs team to make the World Series, in 1945.

According to STATS, LLC, the last player to make three errors in an inning was 3B Andy Marte of Cleveland on June 10 last year. The last SS to do it was Aaron Miles of St. Louis, on July 7, 2007.

NOTES: Castro also went 0 for 5. ... Kosuke Fukudome set a career high with five hits, all singles and Darwin Barney hit a two-run homer in the first inning. "It is actually my birthday in Japan with the time difference, so it's my day," Fukudome said through an interpreter. ... Quade gave third baseman Aramis Ramirez the night off, starting Jeff Baker in his place. ... Quade said that injured starting pitchers Randy Wells (forearm strain) and Andrew Cashner (rotator cuff strain) were both progressing well, though no timetable has been established for their return to the Cubs' rotation. Both pitchers, who were placed on the disabled list on April 7, are slated to be re-examined on Wednesday. ... Fowler's seventh-inning triple gave him 25 in his career, moving him past Ellis Burks for fifth on Colorado's career list.

[Associated Press]

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