ROCKIES TAKE EARLY CONTROL, BUT CUBS FIGHT BACK TO SPLIT

CHICAGO — The 2025 Rockies arrived at Wrigley Field on March 30 looking sharp, fast, and opportunistic — and for the first half of the four‑game marathon, they looked like the better team. Colorado claimed the first two contests behind a five‑run eruption and a tight pitching duel. But the Cubs, backed into a corner, responded with two gritty wins of their own to salvage a split on a long, dramatic day of baseball.

The Rockies took Games 1 and 2 by scores of 6–2 and 2–1, while the Cubs answered with 6–4 and 2–1 victories in Games 3 and 4.

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GAME 1: Rockies’ Fifth‑Inning Surge Breaks It Open (Rockies 6, Cubs 2)

Colorado wasted no time setting the tone. After falling behind 2–1 early, the Rockies exploded for five runs in the fifth, turning the opener into a decisive win. Matt Olson drove in three, Lee doubled, and Lile and Garcia Jr. kept the pressure on with multi‑hit performances.

Robbie Ray steadied himself after a shaky first inning, striking out seven and allowing just three hits over 6.1 innings. Chicago’s offense never recovered after its early burst, and the Rockies walked off with a convincing win to open the day.

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GAME 2: Rockies Edge Cubs in a Tight Duel (Rockies 2, Cubs 1)

The second game flipped into a pitcher’s showcase.

Logan Henderson struck out seven for Chicago, but Colorado capitalized on the few chances it had. Lee’s home run and a late RBI from Amaya proved enough, as the Rockies scratched out a narrow win despite being outhit 8–6.

T. Hernandez collected three hits, Sanchez added two, and the Cubs put runners on in nearly every inning — but nine stranded baserunners told the story. Pagan closed the door in the ninth, and Colorado took a commanding 2–0 series lead.

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GAME 3: Cubs Strike Back With Early Power (Cubs 6, Rockies 4)

Down two games and staring at a sweep, the Cubs finally punched back.

Chicago erupted for four runs in the first inning, powered by home runs from T. Hernandez and N. Marte. Cruz added three hits and an RBI, Alvarez reached twice and scored, and Conforto chipped in with a double as the Cubs’ offense finally woke up.

Seth Lugo battled through six innings despite giving up three homers, and the bullpen trio of Wrobleski, Burrows, and Kerkering allowed just one hit over the final three frames. The Cubs were on the board and had momentum for the first time all day.

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GAME 4: Conforto Walk‑Off Completes Cubs’ Comeback (Cubs 2, Rockies 1)

The finale delivered the drama.

Clayton Kershaw and Jack Flaherty traded zeros in a tense, low‑scoring duel. Colorado struck first, but Conforto tied the game with a seventh‑inning homer — and then won it with a sharp RBI single in the 10th, scoring Bell and sending the Cubs pouring out of the dugout.

Flaherty’s seven‑inning, eight‑strikeout performance and T. Walker’s three innings of scoreless relief gave Chicago the foundation it needed to complete the comeback and secure the split.

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SERIES TAKEAWAYS

Rockies Dominate Early

Colorado looked poised for a sweep after two games — disciplined at the plate, aggressive on the bases, and sharp on the mound. Olson, Lee, Lile, and Garcia Jr. were constant threats.

Cubs’ Resilience Saves the Day

Chicago’s bats finally woke up in Game 3, and Conforto’s heroics in Game 4 sealed the turnaround. The bullpen was excellent in both wins.

Pitching Was the Story

Three of the four games were decided by two runs or fewer. Ray, Kershaw, Henderson, Lugo, and Flaherty all delivered strong outings.

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A day that began as a Rockies showcase ended as a Cubs revival. On paper, it’s a split. In the dugouts, it felt like two different stories — Colorado’s early control, and Chicago’s late surge to even the ledger.