Dansby Swanson hit a two-run homer and Matt Shaw had a two-run triple as the host Chicago Cubs scored seven runs in the second inning to beat the Colorado Rockies 8-6 on Wednesday.
The Cubs took two out of three in the series, the first home series win for Chicago since a four-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds the first week of May.
Cubs starter Javier Assad (5-1) gave up five hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander didn’t walk anyone and struck out one in a 92-pitch outing.
With Cubs closer Daniel Palencia going on the injured list on Tuesday, Jacob Webb pitched the ninth to get his second save despite giving up a solo home run to Kyle Karros.
Rockies starter Sean Sullivan (0-1) was roughed up in his second career start, surrendering eight runs and nine hits in four innings. The southpaw walked two and struck out two while throwing 82 pitches.
The first five Cubs hitters scored in the second inning and Chicago recorded a team cycle.
Alex Bregman led off with a walk, and Ian Happ dropped a single down the right field line. Shaw drove them both in with a triple to center.
Carson Kelly made it 3-0 with a double off the right field wall. Swanson extended the lead to five with a two-run blast just over the left field wall.
Nico Hoerner kept the inning going with a one-out single, and Seiya Suzuki drove him in with a double into the left field corner. Michael Busch moved Suzuki to third with a single, and Bregman made it 7-0 with a sacrifice fly to left.
Sterlin Thompson put the Rockies on the board in the third with the first of his two solo home runs, the first two long balls of his career.
Pete Crow-Armstrong got the run back in the fourth with a home run off the foul pole in right, giving Chicago an 8-1 lead. It was his fourth homer in five games.
Thompson’s second home run made it 8-2 in the fifth. Hunter Goodman highlighted a three-run eighth for the Rockies with his 21st home run, cutting the deficit to 8-5.
Thompson finished 3-for-4 for Colorado, which has lost five of its past seven games. The Cubs, who have won five of the past seven, got two hits apiece from Suzuki, Happ, Shaw and Kelly.
