Thu Apr 24 11:26:07 2008

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Rockies try once again to halt Cubs' roll

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(Sports Network) - It took some extra time, but the Chicago Cubs were able to post a historic victory on Wednesday. Now the club will aim to extend its season-high six-game winning streak in this afternoon's conclusion of a two- game series with the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

On Wednesday, Ryan Theriot singled home the game-winning run in the 10th inning as the Cubs upended the Rockies, 7-6, for the 10,000th win in franchise history. Chicago became just the second franchise to reach that milestone, the other being the San Francisco Giants.

Also, manager Lou Piniella recorded his 100th victory with the Cubs, becoming the 14th Cubs skipper with such a feat. That win came when Theriot drilled a two-out pitch to right in the 10th to score pinch-runner Mike Fontenot.

Geovany Soto, whose single started the rally in the 10th, went 4-for-5 with a solo home run. Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run homer and finished with three RBI, while Derrek Lee tripled during a 4-for-5 effort at the plate.

Cubs closer Kerry Wood (2-0) blew his second save of the season, but got the win after pitching a one-run ninth.

Today's starter for Chicago, Jason Marquis, tossed his best game of the season on Saturday and was rewarded with his first win of 2008. After a pair of no decisions, the right-hander held the Pirates to one run on six hits while striking out a season-high seven over six innings, also his longest outing of the season.

Marquis is 5-3 with a 4.04 earned run average in 11 games (9 starts) versus Colorado in his career. He went 1-0 in two starts against them last year and has been solid in his career at Coors Field, where he is 3-0 with a 2.49 ERA in four games (3 starts). Marquis has yielded just one homer in 21 2/3 innings pitched there.

Troy Tulowitzki drilled a three-run homer and Clint Barmes hit a solo shot yesterday for the Rockies, who have lost four consecutive games. Manny Corpas blew his fourth save of the season and Kip Wells (1-1) was saddled with the loss.

Colorado's Todd Helton and Matt Holliday have each hit two home runs in their careers off of Marquis and have combined for eight RBI against him. Tulowitzki has just one hit in six at-bats (.167) versus Marquis.

Aaron Cook seeks a third straight winning start today when he goes for Colorado. Cook is 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA on the year and has bested Arizona and Houston in back-to-back road starts.

Against the Astros on Saturday, the right-hander allowed just two runs (1 earned) on four hits over seven innings of a 3-2 victory.

Cook will make his second home start of the year, and his first at Coors was arguably his best outing of 2008. Versus the Braves on April 7, the righty gave up just one run on two hits over seven frames of a no decision.

The 29-year-old is 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA in four lifetime games (3 starts) versus the Cubs, including a loss in his lone start against them last year.

Lee is hitting 3-for-7 (.429) with four walks in his career versus Cook, though Ramirez doesn't have a hit in seven at-bats against the righty.

Chicago won five of seven against Colorado last year, though the Rockies did win the final two meetings, both at Coors Field.