Chicago Cubs: Missed opportunities costly as team falls 5-3

Mike Montgomery made his first start of 2017 and Seth Frankoff made his MLB debut, but the Chicago Cubs fell to the Colorado Rockies 5-3 Friday afternoon.

Mike Montgomery made his first start of the season for the Chicago Cubs in lieu of Kyle Hendricks being placed on the disabled list with tendinitis. And, largely, the results were positive – minus the length of the outing.

The left-hander did about as good as anyone could reasonably expect, allowing just two runs in four innings. He struck out five, walked three, and threw a season-high 73 pitches.

On a day in which the Cubs offense looked to get back on track, they would have to try solving Colorado rookie German Marquez, who bested Chicago May 10 in Denver.

Offensively challenged

In the first inning with two base-runners on, Jayson Heyward came through with a two-out RBI single. The Rockies tied the score in the second inning when Ryan Hanigan hit a game-tying, two-run home run to left field.

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Entering the day’s action, the Cubs came in among baseball’s worst teams with runners in scoring position (.219 BA). Chicago loaded the bases in the third inning but was unable to drive home the big hit. Colorado came in tops in the majors in that category (.317).

Seth Frankoff made his MLB debut out of the bullpen and gave up a two-run home run in the fifth to Charlie Blackmon, who entered the day top five in MLB for BA (.337).

Carl Edwards Jr., making a bid for the NL All-Star team, entered Friday with a sub-1.00 ERA. He struck out three but allowed one run in the seventh inning, via a Nolan Arenado RBI single to left.

Missed opportunities

A concurrent theme on the season, an inconsistent Cubs offense’s missed opportunities ruled the day.

Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo each walked three times, and overall, the team showed its patience with nine free passes. In the third inning, Heyward reached base on catcher’s interference, part of the bases-loaded opportunity in which Chicago failed to score.

He also reached base via a hit-by-pitch to lead off the eighth inning.

Facing the MLB leader in saves with 22 straight opportunities converted, Greg Holland walked the bases loaded in the ninth. However, par for the day, the Cubs could not make the Rockies pay.

Chicago falls to 5-3 on their current homestand.

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What’s next

The Cubs and Rockies play game three of their four-game set Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field. First pitch is at 1:20 p.m. CT.

Right-hander Eddie Butler (3-1, 3.75 ERA) takes the ball for Chicago opposite Rockies right-hander Jeff Hoffman (3-0, 2.61 ERA).