DENVER — It was clear in the Cubs’ 6-4 loss Tuesday to the Rockies that their bullpen still is figuring out how to adjust to the loss of closer Adbert Alzolay (strained right forearm), who landed on the 15-day injured list Monday.
A short start from right-hander Javier Assad exposed some of the bullpen’s weaknesses. Assad battled traffic on the bases all game. He already had thrown 79 pitches one out into the fourth inning and left after giving up a two-run single to former Cubs star Kris Bryant that tied the score 2-2.
The bullpen’s performance was a mixed bag. Rookie left-hander Luke Little replaced Assad. He allowed a hit, issued a walk and allowed two inherited runners to score.
In the sixth and seventh, rookie right-hander Daniel Palencia gave up a total of two runs, including a solo home run to Bryant.
The Cubs also got clean innings from veteran right-hander Brad Boxberger in the fifth and rookie right-hander Hayden Wesneski in the eighth.
“We could have done a lot of things better,” manager David Ross said. “Our signature is getting good pitching starting pitching; didn’t get that from Assad tonight. ... We’ve got throw strikes; he kind of lost him man a little bit there. Could have done some things better defensively — Pete [Crow-Armstrong] played his tail off and center, made some really great plays. Made too many the outs and the bases, a lot a little things.”
Cubs cleanup hitter Cody Bellinger made the last out of the first inning trying to stretch a single into a double. And Nick Madrigal made the first out of the fifth inning trying to stretch a double into a triple.
The Cubs took an early 2-0 lead with a string of hits in the second. Dansby Swanson led off with a triple, and Seiya Suzuki drove him in with a single up the middle. After a single by Yan Gomes moved Suzuki to third, Crow-Armstrong logged his first major-league RBI with a sharp comebacker for a run-scoring fielder’s choice.
In a back-and-forth game, Suzuki tied the score 4-4 with a two-run homer in the sixth.
With the Cubs trailing by two runs in the ninth, they made a last-ditch effort at a comeback. With two outs, Nick Madrigal was hit by a pitch and Christopher Morel drew a seven-pitch walk. The Cubs fans in attendance rose to their feet in the lower bowl as Nico Hoerner stepped to the plate, but he struck out looking on a slider low in the strike zone.
