DENVER -- Alan Trammell takes over for Lou Piniella as the Cubs try to rebound from Friday's debacle.
Piniella left for Tampa to attend the funeral of his uncle, leaving Trammell in charge for the next three games.
After trailing 4-0 in the third, the Cubs tied it at 5-5 in the eighth on Derrek Lee's three-run home run off reliever Rafael Betancourt. The hit snapped an 0-for-22 streak with runners in scoring position.
But Carlos Gonzalez smoked Sean Marshall's first pitch of the ninth into the third deck in right, a 462-foot shot that completed the cycle and gave the Rockies a 6-5 win.
The Rockies took an early lead on Miguel Olivo's three-run homer off Tom Gorzelanny in the second and Melvin Mora's run-scoring single in the third, after a Carlos Gonzalez triple. The Cubs sliced the deficit in half in the fifth on Alfonso Soriano's RBI double and a sacrifice fly by Geovany Soto. But Gonzalez's sacrifice fly in the seventh made it 5-2.
Carlos Zambrano relieved Gorzelanny, making his first appearance since returning from the restricted list, and gave up a walk and single before escaping a bases-loaded jam. Gorzelanny allowed five runs over 6 1/3 innings.
Trammell will be a candidate for Piniella's job, but isn't looking at this as a test-drive or audition.
"I don't look at it that way, honestly," Trammell said. "I'm the acting manager and certainly this will be a team effort (from the coaching staff). Certainly my name is (listed as) the so-called manager, but it's not something I will do. It's not my style about campaigning. I've managed before. It's three games, and obviously we want to win. That will never change, whether I was the manager, coach or whatever.
"After yesterday's game, obviously the (12-run) eighth inning was something we've never seen. Been around baseball a long time, and it wasn't a pretty sight. But you've got to be thick-skinned, you've got to move on and turn the page."
Will Greg Maddux please take over the GM office of the Cubs.
I agree with Blackhawk61. We continue to fill the stands, wear the Cubs hats and shirts (they might as well say "Loser" or "kick me" as people look like fools wearing this stuff) and supporting the worst franchise in sports. The Cubs need to earn our support again. Otherwise, it will be another 100 years and counting.
Streaking Cubs match Washington Nationals for 12th best record in National League. Mr. Ricketts continues to express confidence in Jim Hendry. Fans look to bright future with prospects received when Thgeriot and Lilly are dumped before trading deadline.
What do you guys expect? All you do is pack Wrigley. And you idiots will think the Cubs will win it all next year and sellout the games in advance in March. You Cubs fans deserve the suffering you get. I am the smart one by boycotting this mess. You want things to change do the same as I have. You want things to stay the same then keep going to the games. The one good thing about counting numbers is that it never ends. 102 years to infinity. You other Cubs fans must love the losing. I sure don't. That is why our actions differ. I am smart and sober and most of you are drunk and dumb.
Guess it doesn't matter who's managing, Piniella or Trammell, same result, another ridiculous loss.
The Truth:
Can you blame him?
Sir Dragon of Mulberry
STICK WITH THE SOX
Oh! NO! Not again. How bad can it get? I thought that ball was clear out of there.
Sir Dragon of Mulberry
STICK WITH THE SOX
It's good to see the Cubs back to their old selves. P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C
And the bullpen blows it yet again. This sucks.
Z is in the game.
Actually Lou was on an all night bender.