Cubs 5, Rockies 2
Thursday at Salt River Fields
On the mound: Right-hander Ryan Feltner, throwing a sizzling curveball, continues to stake his claim to a spot in the starting rotation. He allowed one earned run on four hits through 5 2/3, walking one and whiffing. Feltner has allowed just two runs over his last 8 2/3 innings (two starts) with nine strikeouts vs. just two walks. … It was not a good day for righty reliever Victor Vodnick, who served up the game-winning, three-run homer to Cole Roederer in the ninth inning. While manager Bud Black likes Vodnick’s stuff, Vodnick’s leaving the ball over the plate too often.
At the plate: Designated hitter Charlie Blackmon hit his second Cactus League home run over his last three games. He went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and is slashing .333/.366/.513 over 14 games. … Second baseman Brendan Rodgers hit 1-for-3, extending his hitting streak to nine games. He’s hit safely in 13 of 15 Cactus League games and is slashing .390/.432/.463. … Nolan Jones, starting in center field for the first time this spring, went 1-for-3 with a double to extend his on-base streak to eight games.
Prospect watch: The roster cuts continued Thursday as the club optioned left-handed reliever Evan Justice to Triple-A Albuquerque and reassigned infielders Coco Montes and Aaron Schunk to minor league camp.
Up next: Rockies at Rangers, 1:05 p.m. Friday (2:05 p.m. MDT)
Rockies probable pitchers: LHP Kyle Freeland, RHP Justin Lawrence, RHP Jack Leiter, LHP Brock Burke.
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