Just when you think that the Colorado Rockies might be heading in a different direction, Monday night's game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field reminds Rockies fans how far the ballclub still has to go.

Colorado took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning. Cole Carrigg's three-run home run earlier in the game gave the Rockies a cushion. Well, the Cubs got one of those runs back and added two more in the bottom of the ninth.

Final score: Cubs 5, Rockies 4.

Rockies reliever Juan Mejia worked one-third of an inning in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving up no hits, two runs (one earned), walked two, and struck out one. Mejia got the loss, falling to 1-6 this season despite earning his fifth hold this season.

Seth Halvorsen was not sharp in the bottom of the ninth inning. But Mejia set things up for the Rockies to not be able to close the door. Mejia opened the home half of the ninth still on the mound. 

What did he do? He walked leadoff batter Seiya Suzuki, then committed a throwing error that allowed Suzuki to reach third base and Ian Happ get to first base. Nico Hoerner then walked, moving Happ up to second base and loading the bases.

Remember, all this took place with nobody out. Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer came out, yanked Mejia, and replaced him with Halvorsen. He wasn't given the best of circumstances as the Cubs had the bases loaded.

Pedro Ramirez sharply singled to left, scoring Suzuki and tying the game at 4-4. The bases remained loaded for Chicago's Matt Shaw. Halvorsen could not get Shaw out, walking him and walking in the winning run.

Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen gave Schaeffer a solid five innings of work on Monday night. He allowed five hits, one earned run, walked one, struck out five, and gave up one home run. Schaeffer used six Colorado relievers over the rest of the game, which just might leave the bullpen vulnerable for the rest of this series.

As for Cubs starter Shota Imanaga, he, too, was pretty impressive. Imanaga went 5.2 innings, giving up five hits, one earned run, walked one, and struck out three. Phil Maton followed Imanaga and earned his first blown save this season.

Reliver Daniel Palencia worked a clean ninth inning, raising his season record to 2-1 and an owner of a 2.70 ERA.

Carrigg smoked his third home run this season in the top of the eighth inning, a soaring drive over the ivy-covered left-field wall. Tyler Freeman and Hunter Goodman scored ahead of Carrigg, giving the Rockies a 4-2 lead.

Things looked like they were sizing up pretty good for the Rockies to start this series at Wrigley Field on the North Side of Chicago on a winning note.

Let's also talk about what the Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong did on Monday night, too. Crow-Armstong took the tough route to hitting for the cycle. He hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning, his 13th homer this season. In the bottom of the third, Crow-Armstong hit his fourth triple.

Crow-Armstrong doubled in the bottom of the fifth inning, leaving him with just a single to pick up for the cycle. He handled his business in the bottom of the seventh, stroking a single and celebrating the moment on the field.

Colorado was 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left seven total runners on base. When Cubs manager Craig Counsell looks at the box score, he'll know that his team had multiple chances to blow out the Rockies. Chicago was 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 15 total runners on base.

The Rockies remain in last place in the National League West Division, now 27-46 this season. As for the Cubs, they are 38-35 and in third place in the National League Central Division.

These two teams will be at it again on Tuesday night at the friendly confines of Wrigley Field in Chicago.

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