Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Dexter Fowler's two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning capped a three-run rally that gave the Chicago Cubs a 6-5 win over the Colorado Rockies.
Colorado took a 5-3 lead into the ninth and Boone Logan struck out Miguel Montero to start the frame before giving way to closer LaTroy Hawkins (1-1). After walking Arismendy Alcantara, Hawkins fanned Mike Olt for the second out, but then ran into trouble.
Welington Castillo plated Alcantara with a pinch-hit single, and despite falling behind 0-2 in the count, Fowler deposited a fastball into the second deck in right field.
"Hats off to my teammates. They battled through that inning," said Fowler. "Welington comes in and gets a key at-bat."
Neil Ramirez (1-0) earned the win after finishing the eighth inning, and Hector Rondon pitched around a two-out double to pick up his second save.
After going 0-for-5 in Friday's series-opening loss, Fowler had two hits and two RBI in each of the next two games, both Cubs wins.
DJ LeMahieu tripled in three runs for Colorado, as the second baseman continues to swing the bat well from the bottom of the lineup. He's hitting 12-for-25 on the season, having split his time in the No. 8 and 9 hole.
Jordan Lyles allowed three runs -- one earned -- on five hits over six innings of work for the Rockies, while his counterpart Kyle Hendricks gave up all five runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 frames.
"We didn't play very clean, but we certainly got into position to win that game," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.
The Rockies did most of their damage in the second inning. After Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the top half on Montero's RBI double, the hosts responded with four in the home second.
Three straight one-out singles by Corey Dickerson, Michael McKenry and Daniel Descalso loaded the bags for Lyles, who popped up for the second out. But LeMahieu cleared them with his triple, and Charlie Blackmon plated him with a single to right-center.
Chicago got two back in the fifth, but missed an opportunity to tie the game or climb in front. Alcantara reached on an error and stole second to lead off, setting up Hendricks' RBI single. Jonathan Herrera followed with a bunt single and Fowler sliced a single to center to load the bases. Anthony Rizzo delivered a sacrifice fly to make it 4-3, but the inning ended when Jorge Soler lined into a double-play.
Carlos Gonzalez padded the lead with an RBI double in the home fifth, and it was 5-3 until the ninth.
Game Notes
Colorado outhit Chicago, 11-7 ... Blackmon went 3-for-4 ... Colorado heads on the road for a three-game set with San Francisco starting Monday, while the Cubs return home for a three-gamer with Cincinnati.
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