Cubs, Rockies wrap up hard-hitting series

(Sports Network) - Two playoff hopefuls conclude a four-game set this afternoon at hitter-friendly Coors Field, where the Colorado Rockies strive for a series split with the visiting Chicago Cubs.

Chicago won the first two encounters before the Rockies broke through with a 15-2 rout on Saturday. Colorado erupted for 13 runs over its final three at- bats to end a string of six straight losses to the Cubs, including all five previous meetings this season.

Jamey Carroll snapped a 2-2 tie with a pinch-hit grand slam off Cubs starter Rich Hill in the bottom of the sixth inning. The infielder also drove in Colorado's final run with a groundout in the eighth.

Troy Tulowitzki finished 4-for-5 with three RBI for the Rockies, who amassed 16 hits on the evening, while Brad Hawpe had a two-run homer and an RBI triple in the triumph. Kaz Matsui added three hits and Yorvit Torrealba scored four times to help Colorado post its fourth win in six games.

The Rockies also received a solid effort on the mound from Josh Fogg (7-7), who held Chicago to two runs on five hits through the first six innings.

Hill (6-7) surrendered seven runs on nine hits before being removed with two outs in the sixth.

The loss put Chicago 1 1/2 games back of first-place Milwaukee in the National League Central standings, while the Rockies remained six games behind division leader Arizona in the NL West. Both teams are just two games off the pace in the league's wild-card race.

Chicago will hand the ball in today's finale to Sean Marshall, who will be trying to rebound from back-to-back rough outings as he makes his Coors Field debut.

The second-year lefty allowed five runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings in a loss at Houston on Tuesday, an actual improvement from his August 2nd outing against Philadelphia in which Marshall was rocked for seven runs and nine hits before being lifted after just 2 2/3 frames.

The back-to-back losses raised Marshall's season earned run average more than a full run, from 3.10 to 4.17.

Marshall has never previously faced the Rockies but has fared well on the road this season. The 24-year-old is 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA in seven away starts since being promoted from Triple-A Iowa in May.

Jason Hirsh was originally slated to pitch this game for Colorado, but the tall right-hander suffered a fractured right fibula when he was struck by a line drive in Tuesday's game with Milwaukee. As a result the Rockies have purchased the contract of Tim Harikkala from Triple-A Colorado Springs to fill the rotation spot.

Harikkala is a well-traveled 36-year-old who hasn't pitched in the majors since making eight relief appearances for Oakland in 2005. The right-hander signed with Colorado Springs in late July and made four appearances with the club, including a start on Tuesday in which he delivered six scoreless innings.

This will be Harikkala's second stint with the Rockies. He pitched in 55 games out of the bullpen for Colorado in 2004 and went 6-6 with a 4.74 ERA.

The Rockies, who improved to 20-6 in their 26 games at Coors Field, wrap up a seven-game homestand this afternoon. The club will embark on a crucial six- game road trip against division-rivals San Diego and Los Angeles beginning Tuesday.

08/12 12:03:16 ET