CHICAGO -- Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon didn't have the friendliest of welcomes lined up for Cubs rookie Seth Frankoff. Rather, he introduced himself to the right-hander with a go-ahead two-run homer to right to lift the Rockies to a 5-3 win over the Cubs on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field and move them 17 games above .500.
Blackmon, whose fifth-inning homer gave Colorado a 4-2 lead, wasn't the only Rox slugger to go yard on Friday.
 
Red-hot Rockies hold off Cubs for 6th straight win
 
 
Facing an early 2-0 deficit, Ryan Hanigan hit a two-run shot of his own to the bleachers in left for just his second home run of the year. The blast traveled an estimated 378 feet and left the bat with an exit velocity of 98 mph, according to Statcast™.
The Cubs' offense came to life in the first inning, plating two runs after a questionable call on a walk to Anthony Rizzo extended the inning. However, filling in for the injured Kyle Hendricks, starter Mike Montgomery lasted only four innings and gave up two runs on three hits and three walks, while Frankoff and Carl Edwards Jr. allowed three more runners to score. The run surrendered by Edwards was the first he had allowed since May 12.
Colorado's bullpen, conversely, was sensational, allowing just one hit over six innings of one-run ball. Greg Holland capped the effort -- after walking the bases loaded in the ninth -- with his 23rd save in as many chances, just three shy of Huston Street's club record established in 2009.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED No harm, no foul: The Cubs had a chance to break open the game in the third after Kris Bryant and Rizzo led off the inning with walks and Jason Heyward reached on catcher's interference to load the bases. However, Rockies starter German Marquez buckled down, striking out Javier Baez and forcing Miguel Montero to fly out deep to left. Of the eight Cubs to reach base off Marquez, only two did so by getting a hit.
How about one more? While the Rockies' bullpen has been dynamic protecting leads in late innings this year, the offense still went ahead and tacked on an insurance run against Edwards. After Raimel Tapia was hit by a pitch on his foot to lead off the seventh, he stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Cubs catcher Willson Contreras. Down to the final out of the inning, Nolan Arenado came through with a big RBI single, knocking the ball over the head of Baez at shortstop and into left field to give the Rockies a 5-3 lead.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW With one on and nobody out and Colorado ahead, 4-3, in the top of the sixth, Rockies slugger Trevor Story smoked a low 86-mph changeup off Frankoff deep to left, but the ball hooked foul. Colorado manager Bud Black would talk to the umpires, eventually leading to a crew-chief review of the play, but the call on the field was confirmed.
The crew would also review a play in the eighth inning, as Contreras appeared to catch Ian Desmond stealing with two out to end the frame. After a quick review, the call was upheld and the inning was over.
Scott Chasen and Thomas Harding / MLB.com
 

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