Rockies End Skid with 7-3 Victory Over Cubs, Powered by Goodman's Homer

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies snapped their four-game losing streak on Tuesday night, defeating the Chicago Cubs 7-3, thanks in part to Hunter Goodman's two-run homer in the first inning. The All-Star catcher has been a standout in June, hitting five home runs this month. Ezequiel Tovar also contributed with a homer, while Edouard Julien added three runs batted in. Making his major league debut, outfielder Cole Carrigg made an impression by hitting a triple and celebrating with a dance after reaching third base. Carrigg finished the night 1 for 3 at the plate, including a walk.

This victory marked the 25th win of the season for the Rockies, a notable achievement compared to last year when they didn't reach that milestone until late July. Starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (6-4) pitched effectively into the sixth inning, allowing three runs and striking out three batters before tiring.

On the other side, Alex Bregman went 2 for 3 for the Cubs, driving in a run with a sacrifice fly. This came after he took responsibility for the team's recent offensive struggles. Michael Busch also hit a solo homer, but the Cubs were unable to turn their fortunes around, suffering their 21st loss in 28 games. Colin Rea (5-4) struggled on the mound, surrendering a season-high seven runs over just 4 2/3 innings, a stark contrast from his recent performances.

The atmosphere at Coors Field included a significant number of Cubs fans, prompting manager Warren Schaeffer to acknowledge, "You absolutely notice it. It’s loud for the other team in our own ballpark. How much is that on us? I would say all of it is on us."

Looking ahead, the Cubs are set to start left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga (4-6, 4.74) on Wednesday, while the Rockies will counter with righty Michael Lorenzen (2-8, 8.01).