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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CHICAGO (AP) -- Four trades in two weeks signal that the Chicago
Cubs are planning for the future. That's fine, says Mark Grace. But
how about the current season?
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| Grace |
"A lot of people have been talking about next year. But
everybody in here is talking about this year. How can you not?"
Grace said Monday night after driving in both runs to back Kevin
Tapani's strong pitching as the Cubs blanked the Colorado Rockies
2-0.
The Cubs have won 9 of 10. And since falling 18 games under .500
just before the All-Star break, they've taken 16 of 20.
"I've been around long enough to know that there are stretches
where you look a whole lot worse than you are and stretches where
you play better than what you are," said Tapani, who allowed just
four hits in 6 2/3 innings.
"We're in a stretch where we're playing really good and we want
to ride it as far as we can," he said. "We said, 'Let's see how
many series we can win and get back to a respectable season.' "
Tapani (7-8) ran his career record against the Rockies to 6-0.
He left in the seventh after giving up a single to Brian Hunter and
a walk to Butch Huskey with two outs.
Felix Heredia then retired Terry Shumpert on a popup to end the
inning before Steve Rain and Rick Aguilera completed the shutout.
Aguilera got his 24th save in 31 opportunities.
The Rockies, who have lost 21 of 26 games, have been shut out
eight times this season -- all on the road -- and twice in their last
four games.
"I've never seen an offensive club like this go through a spell
like this," Rockies manager Buddy Bell said. "We've been
struggling for a while and it's happened to us at a very difficult
time. It would be different if we had guys who couldn't swing the
bats."
Grace had an RBI single in the fourth off Brian Bohanon (5-8)
and hit his 10th homer leading off the seventh against John Wasdin,
making his Rockies debut after being traded from Boston.
The Rockies fell a season-low four games under .500 despite a
strong effort from Bohanon, who allowed just five hits in six
innings, including two singles to Tapani.
Game notes
The Cubs traded OF Henry Rodriguez and got OF Rondell White.
With neither in town, Gary Matthews Jr. got the start in left and
made two nice catches, one while crashing into the wall along the
left field line and the other while diving for a low liners. ...
Tapani's multi-hit game was the first of his career. After his
second single in the sixth, Bohannon picked him off second. ... The
three-game series marks the Rockies only appearance at Wrigley
Field this season. Colorado is 23-16 at Wrigley, its best road
showing against any team. ... The Cubs called up left-handers
Daniel Garibay and Phil Norton from Triple-A Iowa. Garibay is
slated to make his first major league start Tuesday. ... The last
time the Rockies played at Wrigley on May 5, 1999, they became just
the third team since 1900 to score in every inning of a nine-inning
game. ... Jeffrey Hammonds went 0-for-4 and had his 10-game hitting
streak snapped.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Colorado Clubhouse
Chicago Cubs Clubhouse
RECAPS
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Minnesota 5
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NY Mets 0
Chicago Cubs 2
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