DENVER -- Sterlin Thompson’s pinch-hit single with no outs in the ninth gave the Rockies their second straight victory over the Cubs, 3-2, at Coors Field on Wednesday night.
Thompson’s hit off Daniel Palencia came after Troy Johnston walked to end a seven-pitch plate appearance and Brett Sullivan ended a nine-pitch at-bat with a single that moved Johnston to third.
With the Rockies trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the eighth, TJ Rumfield powered Jacob Webb’s first pitch to him over the right-field wall for his eighth homer of the year, a two-run shot. The Cubs’ Ian Happ tied it with a leadoff homer off Antonio Senzatela in the top of the ninth.
The late swings changed an against-trends game. Cubs starter Shota Imanga had given up five or more runs in each of his previous four starts, but threw five scoreless frames against the Rockies. Rockies starter Michael Lorenzen entered with an 8.01 ERA – the highest of any MLB pitcher with at least eight starts – but held the Cubs to one run and struck out a season-high seven in five frames.