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Sports

Rockies move to 4-0, top Cubs

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Justin Morneau accepted his award for winning the 2014 National League batting title prior to Colorado's home opener, then belted a solo home run to help the Rockies to an 5-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday in front of a record crowd at Coors Field.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado and second baseman DJ LeMahieu were also honored for earning Gold Glove awards in 2014. LeMahieu showed he can also do some damage with the bat, finishing 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Tyler Matzek struck out four in four innings of one-run ball and Troy Tulowitzki drove in a pair of runs for the Rockies, who improved to 4-0 on the young season.

"With Tyler, It wasn't easy for him but he kept it together and put us in position to win," said Rockies manager Walt Weiss.

Cubs starter Travis Wood (0-1) was tagged for three runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings.

"We didn't get the big hit and they did," said Cubs manager Joe Maddon. "We played a pretty good game."

Wood fanned the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the second before Matzek extended the inning with a double that Matt Szczur misplayed in left field. LeMahieu followed with a single to center, plating Matzek without a throw.

The Cubs got the run back a half-inning later, but failed to exploit an opportunity to break the game open. With the bases loaded and no outs, Mike Olt grounded back to Matzek, who threw home for the first out. Szczur tied it with a sacrifice fly to deep left, but Welington Castillo flied out to end the threat.

Corey Dickerson walked following a one-out single by LeMahieu in the fifth inning. Tulowitzki then delivered a two-run double to deep left, restoring Colorado's lead.

Morneau added to it with his blast to left-center in the sixth inning. The home run was Morneau's 1,500th career hit.

Later in the sixth, Dickerson ripped a single to center to score Charlie Blackmon.

Christian Bergman (1-0) picked up the win and Brooks Brown tossed two scoreless innings to highlight a Colorado bullpen that only gave up one hit over five innings.

Game Notes

The Rockies are 4-0 for just the second time in franchise history. They also opened 4-0 in 1995 ... The announced crowd of 50,967 was the largest in Coors Field history ... Chicago went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.