Fogg outduels Zambrano as Rockies top Cubs

CHICAGO (AP) -- Colorado manager Clint Hurdle was at a loss to explain it. One day after getting 16 hits in a wild 19-11 loss to the Dodgers, the Rockies parlayed six hits into a victory over the Chicago Cubs.

Elias Says

Pierre Juan Pierre reached the 200-hit plateau in a season for the fourth time in his major league career in the Cubs' loss to the Rockies on Friday. Pierre also had 200-plus hits for the Rockies in 2001 and for the Marlins in 2003 and 2004. The only other active players with at least four 200-hit seasons are Ichiro Suzuki (6), Derek Jeter (5), Vladimir Guerrero (4) and Michael Young (4). • For more Elias Says, Click here.

The Rockies took the lead with a three-run rally in the sixth inning -- and did it without a hit.

"After what we've been through in the Dodgers series, three runs, that hasn't meant a whole lot," Hurdle said after Friday's 5-2 victory at Wrigley Field.

"You watch this game day in and day out and you see some things that make you shake your head," he said.

Josh Fogg pitched seven strong innings and benefited from Colorado's sixth in which pitcher Carlos Zambrano walked three and hit a batter and first baseman John Mabry made a costly error. The Rockies denied Zambrano his league-leading 17th win.

"Zambrano threw the ball well today, but he got a little wild in that inning and hit a guy to knock a run in," said Fogg, who allowed two runs and five hits. "I'll take them any way I can get them."

Zambrano (16-7) gave up only three hits -- all singles in the third inning -- walked four and struck out nine in seven innings. Only two of the four runs against him were earned.

Zambrano would have had an even better season if he hadn't gone winless in his first seven starts. He didn't earn victory No. 1 until May 10.

The big right-hander made another pitch after the game, saying manager Dusty Baker, who could be in his final homestand, has had an almost impossible task this season with all the injuries. Baker's contract expires after the season and he's not expected to return.

"It's tough when as a manager they give you tools and your tools go down with too many injuries," Zambrano said. "Our big man, D. Lee [Derrek Lee], was down this year and that's tough. ... The numbers talk. See his [Baker's] winning percentage. He's a winning guy, a winner."

Zambrano also suggested that the Cubs need to pick up one or two more pitchers. He wasn't being specific, but Kerry Wood has a torn rotator cuff and might return as a reliever -- maybe not even with Chicago -- and Mark Prior has also been out most of the season with a shoulder problem.

"We need one or two more pitchers," Zambrano said. "We'll see. I always said that any team can be good with two or three good pitchers. The best example is the Atlanta Braves with Maddux, Smoltz and Glavine back in the day."

After Zambrano walked Garrett Atkins and Matt Holliday with one out in the sixth, Todd Helton hit a hard smash that Mabry missed for an error, allowing a run to score and putting runners at second and third.

Brad Hawpe was walked intentionally to load the bases before Zambrano hit Troy Tulowitzki with a pitch and gave the Rockies a two-run cushion. Chris Iannetta then hit an RBI roller to first and Colorado was up 4-1.

Chicago got a run back in the bottom half when Ryan Theriot tripled and scored when Aramis Ramirez grounded out. Theriot waited until third baseman Atkins threw to first and then broke for the plate, beating Helton's relay home.

Colorado made it 5-2 in the eighth off reliever Scott Eyre on another walk to Holliday and back-to-back singles by Helton and Hawpe.

Singles by Fogg, Kaz Matsui and Atkins put the Rockies up 1-0 in the third. The Cubs tied it on Theriot's single and an RBI double by Ramirez in the fourth.

Brian Fuentes pitched the ninth for his 30th save in 35 chances and became the first Colorado closer to have multiple 30-save seasons.

Game notes
Juan Pierre's leadoff single in the Cubs first gave him 200 hits for the fourth time in his career. ... When Zambrano struck out the first two batters he faced, it allowed him to surpass his previous career high of 202 strikeouts in a season. ... The Rockies are now 30-28 all-time at Wrigley Field, one of two NL teams to have a winning record at the Cubs' home park. Arizona is the other. ... It was 59 degrees at game time.