Rockies drop to 9-45 as offense falls flat in Chicago

Rockies Report, Game 54:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: On a day that saw Rox pitchers hold the NL-Central leading Chicago Cubs to four hits, Colorado could scratch out just one run, falling 3-1 to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Mickey Moniak’s second home run in as many days provided the extent of Colorado’s offense, breaking up a perfect game that Jameson Tallion had through 4 2/3 innings.

Moniak did that. pic.twitter.com/g8z2In08Q0

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) May 26, 2025

Colorado had a chance for more in the sixth, with Michael Toglia coming to the plate with two out and runners on second and third. But he took a curveball that caught the outside edge of the plate for strike three, one of three strikeouts in four plate appearances Monday for Toglia.

He leads MLB with 77 strikeouts. Heading into Monday night, that was nine more than anyone else in the major leagues.

Colorado is 9-54.

ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT

Carson Palmquist absorbed his third loss in as many starts, but this one saw signs of progress, as he settled down after a rocky first inning to retire the Cubs in order in the second and third frames before extracting himself from a two-out, two-on jam in the fourth.

The fifth inning was a different matter, unfortunately. Put back into a deadlock following Moniak’s homer, Palmquist was on the business end of A-B-C baseball, as a leadoff walk of Matt Shaw came back to haunt him.

Reese McGuire sacrificed Shaw to second, Ian Happ moved him to third on a 5-3 groundout, and then Kyle Tucker drove him in with a two-out RBI to center field.

Another run came at the expense of reliever Juan Mejia, who worked two innings. Zach Agnos delivered a perfect eighth inning.

BITS AND PIECES

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: Ex-Rockies reliever Drew Pomeranz got Ryan McMahon to line out for the final out of the eighth inning with Jordan Beck on second base, ending Colorado’s threat. Colorado went down 1-2-3 in the ninth inning.

ROCKIES NUMBER TO NOTE: 16 — Losses in 18 series-opening games this season for the Rox.

WHAT’S NEXT: Germán Márquez goes for his third quality start in his last four appearances Tuesday night. Right-hander Cade Horton starts for the homestanding Cubs. First pitch on Chicago’s North side will be at 6:05 p.m. MDT.

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