Lambert Sparkles To Win Debut, Rockies Top Cubs 3-1
CHICAGO (AP) — Peter Lambert allowed four hits over seven innings and struck out nine to win his major league debut, helping the Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago Cubs 3-1 on Thursday.
A 22-year-old right-hander selected in the second round with the 44th overall pick of the 2015 amateur draft, Lambert retired 11 straight batters before Kris Bryant doubled with one-out in the sixth. Bryant scored on Javier Báez's two-out single.
Lambert (1-0) walked one and threw 63 of 95 pitches for strikes, ending his outing by striking out the side in the seventh. He set a Rockies record for strikeouts by a pitcher in his debut.
He also singled on his first pitch as a big league batter, using a two-tone bat to loop a fastball from José Quintana (4-5) to right-center field.
Lambert was 2-2 with a 5.07 ERA in 11 starts this season at Triple-A Albuquerque.
Jairo Díaz pitched a one-hit eighth and Scott Oberg threw a perfect ninth for this third save, completing a five-hitter.
Colorado rebounded after losing the first two games of the series. Chicago's NL Central lead was cut to a percentage point over second-place Milwaukee.
Quintana dropped to 0-4 in his last six starts, giving up three runs and six hits in 7 1/3 innings. He has not won since beating St. Louis on May 5.
Colorado took a 2-0 lead in the third when David Dahl hit an RBI single and scored on the first of Ian Desmond's two doubles. Chris Iannetta hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh after Desmond doubled and Bryant lost Mark Reynolds' fly in the sun, allowing the ball to drop for a double
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies: Colorado placed LHP Mike Dunn on the 10-day IL, retroactive to Wednesday, due to shoulder inflammation. ... Colorado moved LHP Harrison Musgrave (left elbow flexor strain) to the 60-day IL. ... After throwing successfully to hitters off a mound on Wednesday, RHP Wade Davis (left oblique strain) is "right around the corner" from returning, according to manager Bud Black. Black wouldn't specify a date.
UP NEXT
Rockies: RHP Antonio Senzatela (4-4, 5.33) starts Friday at the New York Mets and RHP Jacob deGrom (3-5, 3.49).
Cubs: LHP Cole Hamels (4-2, 3.62) is on the mound Friday against visiting St. Louis and RHP Miles Mikolas (4-5, 4.41). The Cardinals swept three games from the Cubs in St. Louis last weekend.
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