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 The center fielder hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth
inning, completing a three-run uprising that gave the Chicago Cubs a
6-5 win over the Rockies. The decisive hit came on an 0-2 slider
from closer LaTroy Hawkins, who blew his second save in three
opportunities this season.
"First time coming back, it's surreal that it happened, that I hit
the game-winning homer here," Fowler said. "I got it pretty good.
It's one of those you hit it and it's almost like you didn't feel
it, but you know it."
At 42, Hawkins is the oldest player in the majors, and he said he
has been trying to get a feel for his stuff since the end of spring
training. Hawkins blew a save chance Wednesday in Milwaukee, but the
Rockies managed to win in the 10th inning. There was no such
comeback in the rubber game against Chicago.
Hawkins entered after lefty Boone Logan got the first out in the
ninth. Hawkins walked the first batter he faced and threw a wild
pitch. With two outs, pinch hitter Welington Castillo singled home a
run, setting the stage for Fowler's dramatics.
"It wasn't a slider, it was a cement mixer," Hawkins said. "That's
what we call them, when they don't do what they're supposed to do. I
just couldn't get ahead of hitters. The one I did get ahead of, I
gave up a home run to. When you make terrible pitches like that,
that's what big-leaguers do."
Hawkins (1-1) came on after Adam Ottavino and Logan worked a
combined 2 1/3 hitless innings. Colorado starter Jordan Lyles
allowed three runs, one earned, and five hits in six innings,
getting 11 outs on ground balls.
The Rockies carried a two-run lead into the ninth largely because of
a bases-loaded triple by second baseman DJ LeMahieu that highlighted
a four-run second. The hit came with two outs on an 0-2 changeup
from Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks, who gave up eight hits and five
runs in 4 1/3 innings in his 2015 debut.
"I tried to throttle him a little bit," Hendricks said of the pitch
LeMahieu drove into the gap in left-center. "Threw a fastball up and
then go changeup. I just didn't get it down enough. Not a terrible
pitch, but you got to make a better pitch than that 0-2.
"I had nothing out there. Just tried to battle and keep them in it.
Luckily, the bullpen came in and did a (heck) of a job."
Hendricks left with one out and runners on second and third in the
fifth. Jason Motte got cleanup-hitting first baseman Justin Morneau
to pop up and left fielder Corey Dickerson to foul out. Three more
relievers followed Motte to the mound as the Cubs bullpen gave up
two hits in 4 2/3 scoreless innings.
Neil Ramirez (1-0) struck out both batters he faced in the eighth to
earn the win. Closer Hector Rondon allowed a two-out double in the
ninth but earned his second save.
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The Cubs were playing with a thin bench. Infielder Tommy La Stella
was unavailable due to a right side strain that caused him to miss
the series. Third baseman Mike Olt struck out as a pinch hitter in
the ninth, but he wasn't in the lineup after getting hit with a
pitch on his right wrist in the ninth inning Saturday night.
Chicago manager Joe Maddon had pitcher Travis Wood listed with his
bench players on the lineup card and sent him up to pinch-hit in the
seventh. Wood struck out. The only healthy position player who
didn't get in the game was catcher David Ross, making the Cubs'
comeback win especially sweet.
"That's the kind of stuff that galvanizes a group, when you get
everybody involved," Maddon said. "I've talked to them about being
ready at any time and I'll try anything at any time to win a game.
And the boys were ready."
NOTES: The Rockies committed two errors in the fourth, the first
time they made two errors in an inning since the fourth inning Aug.
10 at Arizona. They finished with four errors. ... Colorado RHP Jon
Axford was placed on the family medical emergency list for at least
three days and perhaps as many as seven to be with his son, Jameson,
who will undergo surgery in Denver after being bitten on his right
foot by a rattle snake in spring training. ... The Rockies selected
the contract of RHP Scott Oberg from Triple-A Albuquerque, and to
make room for him on the 40-man roster, they transferred INF Charlie
Culberson (bulging lumbar disc) from the 15-day to the 60-day
disabled list. ... Chicago INF Jonathan Herrera made his first start
of the season, replacing 3B Mike Olt (wrist). ... Rockies SS Troy
Tulowitzki received a planned day of rest. He struck out as a
ninth-inning pinch hitter.
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reserved.]
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