Sterlin Thompson Shines with Two Homers in Rockies’ 8-6 Loss to Cubs

The Colorado Rockies put up a spirited fight with four home runs, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a disastrous second inning from the Chicago Cubs, ultimately falling 8-6 in the series finale. This loss marked the end of their road trip, finishing with a disappointing 2-4 record.

Fans were eager to see more from Sean Sullivan after his promising Major League debut, and the night began on a high note. Sullivan retired the Cubs in order, allowing just one walk and needing only 12 pitches to face the minimum in the first inning. However, the second inning quickly turned into a nightmare for the young left-hander.

Alex Bregman opened the inning with a walk, setting the stage for the Cubs’ offensive explosion. Ian Happ followed with a bloop single that fell perfectly into the outfield gap. Matt Shaw then tripled to center field, giving the Cubs an early 2-0 lead. An RBI double by Carson Kelly pushed the score to 3-0, and then Dansby Swanson, struggling at the plate, hit a fly ball to left that was aided by the wind, resulting in a two-run home run that completed a team cycle within the inning and extended the lead to 5-0.

Despite finally recording an out, Sullivan faced more trouble as Nico Hoerner’s single and Seiya Suzuki’s RBI double made it 6-0. After allowing another run to score on a sacrifice fly from Bregman, Sullivan exited the inning having thrown an exhausting 42 pitches.

Though he rebounded in the third, striking out two batters and benefiting from a solid catch by Tyler Freeman, Sullivan’s night ended after four innings, during which he allowed eight runs on nine hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. Manager Warren Schaeffer noted, “He got behind in counts and had to come over the plate with his heater. But he came back out and got 1-2-3 in the third and got us through four innings. He knuckled down and did what he had to.”

The Rockies struggled against Cubs starter Javier Assad, mustering just two runs on five hits while striking out only once and not drawing a walk. Assad effectively mixed groundouts and flyouts, recording six of each in his 92 pitches.

Amidst the struggles, Sterlin Thompson emerged as a beacon of hope for the Rockies. In his first at-bat, he launched his first career home run, putting Colorado on the board. He continued to shine, hitting a second home run in the fifth inning, this time to right-center field, bringing the score to 8-2. Thompson also added a two-out double in the seventh, finishing the night with a stellar 3-for-4 performance, two RBIs, and two runs scored. He made history as the first rookie in Rockies history to hit two home runs in a game at Wrigley Field.

After Sullivan’s rough outing, the Rockies turned to Zach Agnos to stabilize the game. Agnos delivered a solid performance, going three innings and allowing just one hit while striking out two. His efforts were bolstered by a remarkable defensive play from Cole Carrigg, who cut down a runner at third base with a throw clocked at 99.8 mph, the fifth-hardest of the season.

As the Rockies attempted to rally, they found some success in the eighth inning against reliever Ethan Roberts. After a walk to Jake McCarthy and a single from Freeman, a passed ball allowed both runners to advance. An out by TJ Rumfield brought McCarthy home, making it 8-3. Hunter Goodman then crushed his 21st home run of the season, narrowing the score to 8-5.

In the ninth, Kyle Karros added another home run, his fourth of the season, making it 8-6. However, the Rockies couldn’t complete the comeback, as Jacob Webb secured the save for the Cubs.

Throughout the game, Colorado recorded nine hits, including four home runs, but struggled with runners in scoring position, going just 1-for-7. Schaeffer praised his team’s fighting spirit, stating, “The Boys keep fighting, they keep fighting every night… I’m proud of them for that.”

The Rockies are set to return to Coors Field for a six-game homestand, starting Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bubba Chandler is expected to take the mound for the Pirates, while Kyle Freeland will start for the Rockies, with first pitch slated for 6:40 pm MDT.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.