The Colorado Rockies took Sunday's game from the Chicago Cubs, 9-5, following an offensive explosion in the eighth inning. Tied at five after the fourth inning, the game plodded along until Ryan Spilborghs started the bottom of the eighth with a leadoff single. He moved over to third on a Jose Lopez double, but then Jose Morales and Ty Wigginton had back-to-back strike outs. That's when the real fun started.
Dexter Fowler doubled to plate Spilborghs and Lopez, and then he scored on a Jonathan Herrera single. Herrera advanced to second on the throw. Carlos Gonzalez singled in Herrera to put the Rockies up, 9-5. Huston Street came in to finish the game in a non-save situation. He allowed a leadoff single to Starlin Castro, but erased that when Darwin Barney lined out, leading to Castro being doubled off first.
Rockies rookie Alan Johnson made his first career major league start and fared as well as one could have hoped. He allowed five runs in four innings on six hits and three walks. Two of his three strikeouts resulted in Alfonso Soriano returning to the dugout. Matt Belisle, Matt Reynolds, Rafael Betancourt and Street held the Cubs to just four hits over the remaining six innings. Betancourt picked up the win.
Seth Smith hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first, but left later in the game after he suffered a tight groin. Carlos Gonzalez went 4-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored.
The Rockies (12-3) host the San Francisco Giants for a three-game series, starting Monday night. Esmil Rogers faces Tim Lincecum in the first game, but all eyes will be waiting for Tuesday's game. Ubaldo Jimenez returns to the mound following his Opening Day start and trip to the disabled list.