Chicago Cubs: Nearly no-hit, Cubs drop finale to Rockies, 3-0

Despite playing in hitter-friendly Coors Field, the Chicago Cubs’ offense only mustered three hits in a 3-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies Wednesday.

Taking on the reigning World Series champion Chicago Cubs was no big thing for Colorado Rockies hurler German Marquez on Wednesday.

The right-hander took a no-hitter into the seventh, spinning a three-hit shutout, striking out eight. He also drove in a pair of runs to back his own cause.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when Ian Desmond came up with only one out in a bases-loaded situation and hit a sacrifice fly. Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks (2-2, 3.40) was effective in limiting the damage, but that one run ended up being enough.

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Once again, the Cubs’ offense couldn’t get going. The team was no-hit until the seventh by Marquez, who turned in a gem.

Kris Bryant led off the seventh with a double for the team’s first hit. But the team’s RISP dilemma continued, finishing 0-for-5 on the afternoon.

Colorado scored two more in the seventh after Marquez singled in a pair off Carl Edwards Jr. Both runs were charged to Hendricks, who took the loss after going 6 1/3 with three runs (two earned), seven strikeouts and two walks.

The team had one last chance down three in the eighth after getting runners on 1st and 2nd with one out. However Willson Contreras and Jon Jay both grounded out, spoiling the opportunity. The team then went 1-2-3 against Rockies’ closer Greg Holland to end the game.

The loss puts the Chicago (17-17) at .500, where they’ve been hovering at or around for the past week or so. The team’s three hits ranks as the second-fewest so far in 2017. The only worse performance came last month against Pittsburgh.

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What’s Next:

The Cubs head to St. Louis for a three-game series with the Cardinals.

Offseason acquisition Eddie Butler starts the opener Friday at Busch Stadium. Mike Leake will oppose him for the Redbirds. First pitch is at 7:15 p.m. CT.