A day after the Rockies swept Milwaukee and helped Chicago keep pace with the first-place Brewers, they provided some relief for the reeling Cubs, who were also swept this week in Houston.
The Cubs belted 16 hits and won 10-2 in the series opener at Coors Field to close to within one-half game of the Brewers, who did not play Thursday.
Without Alfonso Soriano in Houston, the Cubs scored five runs and went 2-for-34 with runners in scoring position.
The Cubs didn't need any help in the third. They chased Jimenez out of the game by starting the inning with five straight hits, including a leadoff homer by Matt Murton and an RBI triple from Mike Fontenot.
Ted Lilly 13-5 went six innings and gave up two runs to get his seventh win in his last eight starts.
Keeping track of the latest handicapping information like this has made baseball betting profitable. Free picks are posted daily.
