Cubs vs Rockies Recap: Rockies steal 3-2 win in Thursday thriller

The Cubs rolled into Colorado still hurting from a loss the night before. Chicago had fallen 7-3 in Wednesday's game and needed to bounce back fast. They were 34-34 on the season and desperate to stop their three-game losing streak. The Rockies, sitting at 26-42, were in rebuild mode but had won their last two games and wanted to keep the momentum going. Both teams knew this Thursday matchup mattered. Coors Field in Denver is one of baseball's toughest places to pitch, with thin air making the ball carry farther. You could feel the energy building as these teams prepared to battle. The Cubs brought their solid pitching staff. The Rockies were hungry for another win. Nobody knew it yet, but this game would come down to the final inning.

Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga took the mound and you could tell he meant business. The Japanese left-hander struck out seven Rockies batters in five strong innings, giving up just two hits and no runs. His teammates needed him to be solid, and he delivered. In the fourth inning, something magical happened for Chicago. Pete Crow-Armstrong was on base when Moises Ballesteros stepped up. Ballesteros made contact and grounded the ball to first. Crow-Armstrong sprinted home as the ball was fielded. The Cubs had their first run. Score was 1-0 Chicago. But then the Rockies woke up. In the eighth inning, the ball came off TJ Rumfield's bat like a rocket shot to right. The 383-foot blast cleared the wall. Rumfield had driven in Edouard Julien too. Just like that, Colorado grabbed the lead 2-1.

The Cubs refused to quit. In the ninth inning, Ian Happ stepped into the batter's box against Antonio Senzatela. The Rockies pitcher fired a 91-mile-per-hour cutter. Happ's eyes locked on the pitch. He swung with everything he had. The ball rocketed to right-center field. Gone. Two-run home run. The 424-foot blast tied the game 2-2. The Cubs had fought back. But Colorado had one final answer. In the bottom of the ninth, with the score still 2-2, Sterlin Thompson came up to bat. Cubs closer Daniel Palencia threw a 100-mile-per-hour fastball. Thompson made contact. The ball shot into right field for a single. Johnny Johnston raced home from third base. That was it. Game over. Final score: Rockies 3, Cubs 2. Colorado improved to 26-42 and grabbed win number two in a row. Chicago fell to 34-34 with their fourth straight loss.