Cubs 5, at Rockies 4 May 31, 2003, 2:00 PM Game Recap
Cubs 5, at Rockies 4
Cubs Extend Winning Streak, Dealing Rockies First Loss
Rockies (4) vs. Cubs (5)
The Cubs and Rockies squared off on a typically windy but surprisingly sunny afternoon at Skyline College. The Cubs sent their big lanky right hander Ari Zagaris to the hill in the hopes of keeping a potent Rockies line-up in check.
Each club threw a run up on the board in the 1st and the Rockies took the lead in the second with another run. The Cubs jumped ahead in the third with two runs and tacked on another in the fifth and another in the seventh to take a 5-2 lead. Zagaris, meanwhile, was dealing for the Cubs, throwing up zeros in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth, before running into some trouble in the seventh.
After M. Eberhart reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the seventh for the Rockies, Zagaris promptly hit the next batter, forcing the Cubs to go to their bullpen. Doug Zeman came on in relief and gave up a two run double to the next batter making the score 5-4 with one on and no outs in the seventh. The next batter reached on an error and the Cubs were suddenly faced with letting their three run lead slip away in the late innings. But Zeman settled down and struck out the next batter and then Eli Kollman, the Cubs center-fielder, made a great catch for the second out and fired the ball back in to second base to catch the runner leaning for the third out. After escaping the seventh with the lead, the Cubs refused to give it up. Zeman settled down and ended up with the save, striking out five in three innings.
Zagaris got the win as the two righties corralled the Rockies, giving up only five hits, allowing the Cubs to keep rolling, stretching their record to 4-0 and dealing the Rockies their first loss.
