Cubs 9, Rockies 1
CHICAGO -- Travis Wood allowed just two hits in seven scoreless innings, and Alfonso Soriano backed him with a first-inning homer in the Chicago Cubs' 9-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.
Wood (4-2) won for the third time in his past four starts. He struck out two, walked three and worked at least seven innings for the third time this season.
Soriano went 2-for-4, and his two-run homer provided all the runs Wood would need as the Cubs won their third straight.
Colorado right-hander Juan Nicasio (3-1) settled down after two rough early innings and worked through the sixth. He allowed eight hits and five runs while walking one and striking out two.
David DeJesus, Starlin Castro, Soriano and Nate Schierholtz each had two hits and two RBIs for the Cubs, who pounded out 14 hits.
Chicago first baseman Anthony Rizzo, recipient of a seven-year, $41 million contract extension earlier Monday, went 1-for-5 with a seventh-inning single.
Cubs closer Carlos Marmol gave up a one-out solo home run to Josh Rutledge in the ninth to end the shutout bid.
The Cubs opened a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on Soriano's fourth home run of the year. DeJesus led off the inning with a double. Soriano's blast came on an 0-1 count with two outs.
The homer was the 376th of Soriano's career, moving the left fielder into a tie for 69th all-time with Carlton Fisk.
Chicago added three more runs in the second, all with two outs.
Wood contributed with his bat, doubling home Welington Castillo for a 3-0 lead. DeJesus walked to put runners on first and second. That set the stage for Castro's two-run double to left-center for a 5-0 advantage.
It was the most runs Nicasio has allowed in any game this season.
NOTES: The Rockies haven't beaten the Cubs in a three-game series at Wrigley Field since 2006, when they took two of three between Sept. 29-Oct. 1. ... The big Cubs headline came earlier Monday when the team announced Rizzo's new contract. The deal runs through 2019 and includes club options for 2020 and 2021. Since being recalled by the Cubs on June 26, 2012, Rizzo has hit .282 with 25 doubles, 24 home runs and 76 RBIs in 125 games. .... Cubs RHP Kevin Gregg recorded his 150th career save Sunday in Washington, making him the 75th pitcher in major league history to collect at least 150, ... The three-game series continues Tuesday night with Rockies LHP Jeff Francis (1-3. 6.90 ERA) facing Cubs RHP Carlos Villanueva (1-2, 3.02 ERA).
