Ryan Dempster’s rough start to the season continued on Sunday, as he once again gave up at least four runs in a start. Sunday’s tally on Demp was five earned runs, with most of the damage coming in a disastrous first inning. Dempster gave up a walk, a single, a double, and a home run to put the Cubs into an early hole.
Though the Cubs managed to come back and tie the game off of Rockies’ rookie starter Alan Johnson, thanks to good hitting by Starlin Castro, Aramis Ramirez, and Darwin Barney, the bullpen blew up and cost the Cubs the game.
The destruction occurred in the eighth inning off of Marcos Mateo. Mateo came into a game tied at five and proceeded to yield four runs on 2/3 innings pitched. Though Mateo got his two outs by strikeout, early singles and doubles allowed the Rockies to break the game open and continue the Cubs’ series drought in Denver.
The Cubs return home this week and will host the Padres at Wrigley Field on Monday night. First pitch in that game is at 7:10 P.M., CDT.