Game Recap: Taillon silences Rockies in Cubs win over Rockies

Patrick Gorski - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - Monday, May 26 2025

CHICAGO - As good as the Chicago Cubs' (33-21) offense has been playing, there are some concerns about their starting pitching, which hasn't been at the level they need it to be as of late. However, if there was ever one of those get-right series for the pitching staff, facing off against the League-Worst Colorado Rockies (9-45) could be the on,e as the Cubs kicked off a six-game homestand with the Rockies.

When you compare this season's Rockies team to last season's White Sox team, who finished with the worst record in MLB history, it's not even a comparison for how much worse this Rockies team is, as they are on pace for 35 wins. Record aside, they are still a Major League Baseball team, and with the wind howling at Wrigley Field, the wind alone could be the equalizer.

Nothing came easy for the Cubs on Monday, but all that matters is walking away with another victory as the Cubs benefited from a dominating pitching performance from Jameson Taillon to set the tone, while the offense did just enough in a 3-1 victory. For Taillon, this was about as good as the Cubs have seen him as he gave Chicago 6 1/3 innings of seven-strikeout baseball. He allowed one run on four hits and took a perfect game into the fifth inning before losing it on a solo home run.

Chicago needed him to be at the top of his game as the Cubs struggled to generate much offense against Carson Palmquist, who entered the game with an ERA north of 11.00 over two career MLB starts. Despite Palmquist continuing to struggle from a command size, he delivered his best outing of the season as he kept things close by allowing two runs in five innings.

Judging by how things were unfolding in the first inning, it looked as if it was going to be another long day for the left-hander as he walked Ian Happ to start the ballgame before the one-out double from Seiya Suzuki put a pair of runners in scoring position and one down. Dansby Swanson managed to bring in Happ with an RBI grounder, but that was all the Cubs could do as Palmquist was able to wiggle out of trouble to prevent further damage.

Not only did the Cubs waste an opportunity to hang a crooked number early, but that was the game's lone run until the fifth as the Cubs stranded a pair of runners in the bottom of the fourth to keep things at 1-0. With a perfect game through four innings, Taillon continued to roll as he retired the first two hitters in the fifth, as the one run the Cubs had was looking like it would be enough to win this game.

Then came the at-bat from Mickey Moniak, who ended the perfect game bid and the shutout as he muscled one through the wind for a solo shot to right and brought things back to even 1-1. Taillon would allow a Kyle Farmer single later in the inning, but wouldn't allow another run the rest of the way as the pressure was on the offense to back him up as he gave them the starting performance the Cubs needed.

Not long after serving up the lead, the Cubs were in a position to take it back as Matt Shaw led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk before advancing to second on a Reese McGuire sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Kyle Tucker came through in a massive spot as his RBI single put the Cubs in front 2-1 and proved to be the game-winning hit.

The key moment in this one came at the top of the sixth, and it came after Taillon allowed a pair of singles to start the inning. With a crucial sacrifice bunt moving both runners into scoring position, Ryan McMahon put the ball in play for what looked to be a game-tying RBI groundout. Instead, it was Nico Hoerner fielding the ball and firing to home for the out as the Cubs dodged another bullet before getting out of the sixth without any damage.

As bad as things have gone for the Rockies this season, their bullpen has been the one consistent factor for their team as they have done a decent job. Juan Mejia was called on to pitch the sixth and delivered a perfect inning before returning to pitch the seventh. Once again, it was Shaw finding himself in the middle of the action as he worked a one-out walk to reach base before advancing to second on a costly error from Mejia.

Things only got worse from there as Happ laced a line drive single to left to load the bases, which set things up for Tucker as his sacrifice fly put the Cubs in front 3-1. There was some controversy on the Tucker sacrifice fly as Jordan Beck appeared to drop the ball prior to his throw home, but it was ruled he dropped it on the transfer as Mejia struck out Suzuki to end the inning.

That was all the offense the Cubs would need as the combination of Caleb Thielbar, Ryan Pressly, Drew Pomeranz, and Daniel Palencia took care of the rest to close out another series-opening win 3-1. Colorado did have a chance to make things interesting off Pressly in the eighth, but it was Pomeranz who finished the inning with a deep flyout before Palencia sent the Rockies down in order to close out the ninth.

With the win, the Cubs continue to extend their franchise record for series-opening home victories as they have won the first game of every home series this season. The Cubs were held to four hits in the game but still managed to grab the win as they made the most of those hits.

Chicago will look to clinch the series on Tuesday when they turn to the rookie right-hander Cade Horton, who will face German Marquez.