Marcus Stroman, Zach McKinstry fuel Cubs past Rockies

[September 17, 2022] Marcus Stroman didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning and recorded his first home win of the season as the Chicago Cubs won their fourth in a row, 2-1 over the Colorado Rockies on Friday.

Stroman (4-7), who entered 0-5 with a 7.11 ERA in nine home starts for the Cubs (62-82), gave up his first hit of the day after Ryan McMahon drove the ball into the left-center field bleachers with two outs in the sixth.

The veteran right-hander yielded just two other hits and two walks while striking out five in seven innings.

Two batters into their half of the first inning, the Cubs had a 1-0 lead against Colorado starter German Marquez (8-11). Zach McKinstry led off with a triple to center field and scored on Ian Happ's first of two singles on the day.

While Stroman was cruising, McKinstry homered into the left-center field basket off Marquez in the fifth to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead.

Marquez also lasted seven innings, giving up two runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Yonathan Daza had two of the four hits for Colorado (62-82), which has dropped three of four since winning four in a row.

Chicago Cubs Jason Heyward (21) is honored by the Cubs for being its representative of the Roberto Clemente award as manager David Ross (3) stands at his side at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

David Bote also had a pair of hits and Jared Young singled in his major-league debut for the Cubs, who have won four in a row after losing 15 of their previous 21 games.

Brandon Hughes allowed one hit in one scoreless inning of relief and Manny Rodriguez pitched a perfect ninth to record his second save of the season.

The three Cubs pitchers threw just 108 pitches on the day.

Chicago played without injured stars Willson Contreras (ankle), and Nico Hoerner (triceps tightness). Seiya Suzuki (wrist) was not in Chicago's starting lineup, but came on as a defensive replacement in the ninth.

--Field Level Media

[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]  This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.