Rumfield prefers being 'Mr. Consistency' over chasing Rockies HR history

CHICAGO -- Steadiness has been Rockies rookie TJ Rumfield's calling card, but he throws in enough power to be special.

Rumfield provided a spark with a two-run home run in the fourth inning of Tuesday night’s 5-2 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

With the homer off Edward Cabrera, Rumfield joined Trevor Story as the only Rockies with 10 or more home runs before the All-Star break in their debut MLB seasons. Story knocked 21 before the break in 2016.

The 26-year-old Rumfield prefers staying steady over chasing Story or any other home run hitter.

“It’s just baseball, man,” Rumfield said. “It’s fun to be able to hit home runs, but you just want to be able to go out there, compete and help your team every night. Just be consistent, have guys be able to lean on you. Even on nights when you are 0-for-5, it’s being able to give somebody a scouting report and get out of yourself.”

The Rockies’ roster retool has led to highs like Tuesday, and lows like the late-innings bullpen collapse in Monday’s 5-4 loss to the Cubs. This time, the bullpen was better, with Blas Castaño replacing workmanlike starter Ryan Feltner (104 pitches in 4 2/3 innings) with 1 1/3 airtight innings, and Victor Vodnik, Brennan Bernardino and Jayden Hill (first career save) all bouncing back.

Performance from various parts of the squad will vary from game to game. But Rumfield, who earned National League Rookie of the Month honors for May, is providing dependable production.

“He’s been Mr. Consistency all year -- no ups and downs that you would expect from a rookie the first time in the big leagues,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “It’s been impressive what he has done. His numbers speak for themselves. The way he conducts his at-bats speaks for itself.”

The Rockies trailed, 2-0, and didn’t manage a hit or a baserunner against Cabrera until Jake McCarthy’s leadoff single in the fourth. Willi Castro’s RBI double then preceded Rumfield’s homer.

The Rockies had faced Cabrera in his previous start in a 9-3 loss to the Cubs on Thursday at Coors Field. It took until the fourth on Tuesday to find the right combination.

“It was just, stick to our game plan that we came in with, which was just hit strikes hard and lay off balls. I think we eventually grinded him out and got some pitches over the middle of the plate,” Rumfield said. “It starts off with McCarthy getting on, breaking up the no-hitter, Willi hitting the double, then my at-bat, getting a good pitch over the heart of the plate that I can do damage on.

“We’re a resilient bunch of guys. No matter what happens the night before, we come out the day after, ready to play.”