SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Carlos Zambrano has been emphasizing cool, calm and collected this. The Cubs' big right-hander, known for his temper as much as his talent, was all smiles after his latest outing.
Jorge De La Rosa allowed two hits in four innings, prospect Jordan Pacheco hit a three-run homer and a Colorado Rockies' split-squad beat Chicago 4-0 Tuesday.
Zambrano gave up one run and five hits in three innings — the first run he allowed in eight innings this spring training. Braden Looper retired his first seven batters before allowing a single, hitting a batter and giving up Pacheco's homer.
"I'm back to normal," Zambrano said. "I just have to do my job. This year I will concentrate on things I can do and not about things that happen in the field. I'll concern myself with what happens on the mound."
Cubs manager Mike Quade said Zambrano has been a model citizen this spring training.
"He's been fantastic from day one," Quade said. "I have nothing but good things to say about Z. Obviously I am aware of the past, but none of that applies at this time, this moment. He's been impressive on and off the field."
De La Rosa struck out five and walked none as the Rockies won for the third time in five home games.
"I felt much better than I did the last time," De La Rosa said. "My command was much better and all my breaking balls were sharp."
De La Rosa, 8-7 in 20 starts last year, hopes to give the Rockies a strong one-two at the top of the rotation.
"We have a good rotation and we can do a lot of good things," he said. "We hope Aaron Cook is back soon. We just need to work hard, stay healthy and we'll be in a good place."
Clay Mortensen pitched two innings, and Rafael Betancourt, Edgmer Escalona and Franklin Morales each threw an inning to complete a five-hitter.
The Rockies' Thomas Fields had an RBI single in the second inning and a run-saving diving stop in the fifth. He liked the defensive play better.
"It was close at the point and we needed to get out of the inning," said Field, who was hit by a pitch in the seventh and had his right hand wrapped.
De La Rosa gave up Geovany Soto's leadoff double in the second and then retired Jeff Baker Kosuke Fukudome and Blake DeWitt on grounders.
"That's my thing," De La Rosa said. "I kept the ball down and got a lot of groundballs. That was the most important thing today."
NOTES: Bench coach Tom Runnels served as Rockies' manager. ... Rockies 1B Todd Helton singled in each of his first two at-bats and is 3 for 11. ... Pacheco is 6 for 12 with seven RBIs. ... LHP James Russell is scheduled to make his first start for the Cubs on Saturday in Las Vegas. ... The Cubs were shut out for the second time in three days. ... Cubs SS Starlin Castro singled in the fourth and has hit safely in all seven of games he has played.
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