Cubs Offense Goes Cold in Mountains

Rockies starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin silenced the Cubs bats for the most part in the cold and thin Colorado air, and went the full nine innings for the complete game shut out. The Cubs went scoreless for the second time in the past seven days, and first year Cub Matt Garza was not able to match his Rockies counterpart, giving up four runs in the 2nd inning to give the home team the early lead. The big blow came off the bat of Chris Iannetta, whos bases clearing triple just eluded the glove of center fielder Marlon Byrd. Starlin Castro committed an error on the back end of the play to allow Iannetta to come all the way home.

Speaking of Castro, the youngster struggled at the plate for the first time since replacing the injured Kosuke Fukudome in the lead off spot, going 0 for 4. Aramis Ramirez was the only Cub to record multiple hits and the only extra base hit, going 3 for 4. The Cubs offense only managed to scatter six hits against Chacin of the Rockies. It is a little disappointing to see the only shut outs of the Cubs so far coming at offense friendly ballparks, but the Cubs will get another crack at it tonight. The Cubs lost the first game of a series for the first time since Opening Day, and have an up hill battle if they wish to win the series against the hot Rockies.