Cubs top Rockies 4-1; Tsuyoshi Wada earns first Major League win

Tsuyoshi Wada has won over 100 games in the professional leagues in Japan, but there’s no doubt he was relieved to get his first Major League win. The Cubs (43-61) held the Colorado Rockies (43-62) in check en route to a 4-1 victory.

Wada (1-1, 3.38) went seven strong innings, allowing only one run while striking out six. The Cubs bullpen, which had struggled as of late, pitched clean baseball to help secure the victory.

The switch-hitting duo of Emilio Bonifacio and Arismendy Alcantara singled and doubled, respectively, to start the fourth inning. Anthony Rizzo then drove in Bonifacio with a ground out. After intentionally walking Starlin Castro, Rockies starter Yohan Flande (0-3, 6.08) allowed a sacrifice fly to Justin Ruggiano, scoring Alcantara to spot the Cubs to a 2-0 lead.

Wada allowed the only run of the game in the sixth, an RBI single to Nolan Arenado. Arenado also shined in the field with a spectacular diving play on Alcantara’s ground ball in the sixth.

The Cubs were able to tack on some insurance in the eighth as Rockies reliever Nick Masset threw away a pickoff attempt, allowing John Baker to score.

With the bases loaded and Anthony Rizzo at the play, catcher Wilin Rosario caught Nate Schierholtz too far off the bag, picking him off third for the first out. Rizzo would however single to right, scoring Bonifacio. The Rockies avoided any further damage with more spectacular defense on a diving stop by Charlie Culbertson, that he fielded and tossed from his glove to D.J. LeMahieu, who threw to first for the double play.

Hector Rondon worked a perfect ninth for his 13th save of the season.

The Cubs will send  Edwin Jackson (5-11, 5.76) to the mound tomorrow, who left his last start early with cramping in his pitching hand. He will be opposed by Jorge De La Rosa (11-6, 4.19).

It will be another 7:05 pm CT start at Wrigley Field.