DENVER – Rookie Peter Lambert went five strong innings and baffled Chicago for a second time in five days, as the Colorado Rockies won their 10th in a row at home by beating the Cubs 10-3 on Tuesday night.
Lambert (2-0) allowed one run and three hits in his Coors Field debut. The right-hander made his first major league start last Thursday at Wrigley Field and earned his first win when he pitched seven innings of one-run ball.
Daniel Murphy led the Rockies offense with three hits, including a two-run double in the first. Charlie Blackmon added a three-run homer as part of a five-run sixth to break open the game.
Lambert mixed in several offspeed pitches with a four-seam fastball to bottle up the Cubs. Lambert’s only mistake was a fastball that Jason Heyward lined to left for a solo homer in the second.
The 22-year-old Lambert left his mark on the field, too – in the form of a giant divot. He sprinted off the mound on a pop foul in the fourth and dove for the ball near the first-base dugout. In the process, Lambert’s left knee dug deep into the turf. He momentarily limped around before taking a few warmup tosses with a noticeable grass stain on his white pants.
Broncos fullback Andy Janovich won a charity home run contest before the game using a bat he borrowed from Trevor Story.
“He’s athletic and strong so he can create some whip for sure,” Story said.
The third annual UCHealth “Healthy Swings Charity Home Run Derby” was in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It raised around $100,000.
Cubs lefty Cole Hamels (5-2, 3.24 ERA) will start the series finale Wednesday. The Rockies will throw right-hander Antonio Senzatela (5-4, 4.95).
His 83rd and final pitch of the night was a fastball that struck out Anthony Rizzo before turning it over to the bullpen.
Chicago lefty Jose Quintana (4-6) allowed four runs, three earned, over 4 2/3 innings. He also took the loss in Lambert’s debut.
Cubs 3B Kris Bryant was hit twice by Lambert. ... Murphy was thrown out twice on the bases. ... Colorado’s 10th straight home win is the team’s longest at Coors Field in one season since 11 in a row in 1996. ... LHP Phillip Diehl made his major league debut in the ninth and allowed two runs.
