Back-to-back homers propel Cubs to victory

The Chicago Cubs avoided a sweep behind a solid offensive performance on Sunday. Credit: David Banks - USA Today Sports

by Colin Halm - Correspondent - Sun Jun 11 17:56:26 GMT-04:00 2017

CHICAGO – The Cubs avoided the sweep today with a 7-5 win over the Colorado Rockies. The warm summer air combined with a wind blowing out helped the Cubs hit four home runs to support Jake Arrieta at home.

Jon Jay started the game off right by singling to shallow left field. Kris Bryant followed him with another single and Anthony Rizzo drove home the first run on a double to right. Ben Zobrist capped the inning with a three-run homer into the right field seats.

Watch @benzobrist18's three-run homer in the 1st: https://t.co/uDKTfJwaN5 pic.twitter.com/Va2Pn2fuEu
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 11, 2017

Arrieta (6-4, 4.68 ERA) did not end up earning the win as he gave up four runs in just 4.1 innings all of which came in the fifth inning. The last two runs were charged to Arrieta after he left the mound. With the bases loaded, Carl Edwards Jr. gave up a single to Ian Desmond that scored to tie the game at four apiece. This was the first time all year that Edwards gave up a hit while the bases were loaded.

Addison Russell and pinch-hitter Kyle Schwarber each hit solo home runs in the sixth inning and Miguel Montero hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth that went 443 feet into left-center. Montero has excelled in a backup catcher position hitting .300/.367/.488 in his limited time.

Back-to-back!@Addison_Russell: https://t.co/JDaBKsPnvF @kschwarb12: https://t.co/Mh5XrD6jtt pic.twitter.com/QwWBvLwsPc
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 11, 2017

Wade Davis came in for the save but made it interesting after allowing back-to-back singles to Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu for Colorado’s fifth run of the ballgame. Davis has 13 saves and a 1.23 ERA for the season.

#Cubs bullpen:

2nd-best ERA in the NL (3.22)
Best dance moves in @MLB (??) pic.twitter.com/05LU13TwIH
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 11, 2017

The Cubs will start their road trip off in the Big Apple against the New York Mets who are in second place, but 10 games out of the division lead behind the Nationals. John Lackey (4-6, 5.12 ERA) will face Jacob deGrom (4-3, 4.75 ERA) at 6:10 CDT.