DENVER — Casey Coleman scattered four hits while working into the sixth inning and Starlin Castro went 4 for 5 with a three-run homer in Chicago’s 8-3 win over Colorado tonight that snapped the Rockies’ seven-game winning streak.

Alfonso Soriano also went deep for the Cubs, whose win ended a six-game skid at Coors Field that dated to Aug. 9, 2009.

The Rockies, who were missing Carlos Gonzalez (soreness) and Todd Helton (rest) from their starting lineup, hadn’t been blown out all year, losing just twice in their first 13 games, both in extra innings.

Jason Hammel (1-1) became the first Rockies starter to lose a game all season, allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings.

Despite walking three and hitting two batters, Coleman (1-0) kept the Rockies off balance while giving up just four hits and one run, which came in the second when Troy Tulowitzki tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly that tied the game at 1.

So efficient while jumping out to a baseball-best 11-2 start, the Rockies’ watered-down lineup was 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position, including 0 for 9 against Coleman. Colorado left 13 men on base.

The Cubs, who had 17 hits, broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth when Coleman slapped a one-out single to center and took third on Castro’s double down the left-field line. Coleman scored on Darwin Barney’s slow roller to first baseman Jason Giambi.

Soriano made it 3-1 in the sixth with his fifth homer, which came off Hammel.

The Cubs put it away with a five-run seventh inning with all the runs coming off righty Felipe Paulino, who allowed hits to five of the six batters he faced and was charged with five earned runs. He saw his ERA jump from 1.59 to 9.00.

Castro’s blow was the big one. He sent an 0-1 offering into the left field stands for his first homer, which made it 6-1.

Chris Iannetta homered for Colorado, his two-run shot off John Grabow in the eighth making it 8-3. The Rockies had a chance to make it interesting, putting two men on base for Giambi, who battled Kerry Wood through a 10-pitch at-bat before striking out.

Soriano’s RBI double put the Cubs ahead 1-0 in the second, and the Rockies tied it in the bottom half on Seth Smith’s sacrifice fly that scored Tulowitzki, but Colorado wasted leadoff doubles in the fifth and sixth innings while the game was still up for grabs.

Smith led off the fourth with a double and Ty Wigginton was hit by a pitch. Ian Stewart, mired in a 2 for 24 slump, popped out to second, Iannetta struck out looking and Hammel grounded out to third.

An inning later, Dexter Fowler led off with a double and took third on catcher Koyie Hill’s throwing error. Jonathan Herrera grounded out to the mound and Giambi was hit by a pitch before Tulowitzki fouled out and Smith grounded out.

Notes
Castro swiped second base in the first inning but was ordered to return to second because of Marlon Byrd’s backswing interfered with Iannetta. … RHP Alan Johnson will make his major league debut Sunday when the Rockies wrap up their three-game series with the Cubs. Johnson, 27, has spent six-plus seasons in the minor leagues, going 56-42 with a 4.55 ERA. … Rockies manager Jim Tracy said Gonzalez was dealing with “stiffness and soreness” related to the flu he played through in New York and it was affecting his offense. Tracy said he’d like to rest Tulowitzki on Sunday in the series finale. … Rockies backup C Jose Morales made his major league debut at 2B in the ninth.

DENVER — Casey Coleman scattered four hits while working into the sixth inning and Starlin Castro went 4 for 5 with a three-run homer in Chicago’s 8-3 win over Colorado tonight that snapped the Rockies’ seven-game winning streak.

Alfonso Soriano also went deep for the Cubs, whose win ended a six-game skid at Coors Field that dated to Aug. 9, 2009.

The Rockies, who were missing Carlos Gonzalez (soreness) and Todd Helton (rest) from their starting lineup, hadn’t been blown out all year, losing just twice in their first 13 games, both in extra innings.

Jason Hammel (1-1) became the first Rockies starter to lose a game all season, allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings.

Despite walking three and hitting two batters, Coleman (1-0) kept the Rockies off balance while giving up just four hits and one run, which came in the second when Troy Tulowitzki tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly that tied the game at 1.

So efficient while jumping out to a baseball-best 11-2 start, the Rockies’ watered-down lineup was 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position, including 0 for 9 against Coleman. Colorado left 13 men on base.

The Cubs, who had 17 hits, broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth when Coleman slapped a one-out single to center and took third on Castro’s double down the left-field line. Coleman scored on Darwin Barney’s slow roller to first baseman Jason Giambi.

Soriano made it 3-1 in the sixth with his fifth homer, which came off Hammel.

The Cubs put it away with a five-run seventh inning with all the runs coming off righty Felipe Paulino, who allowed hits to five of the six batters he faced and was charged with five earned runs. He saw his ERA jump from 1.59 to 9.00.

Castro’s blow was the big one. He sent an 0-1 offering into the left field stands for his first homer, which made it 6-1.

Chris Iannetta homered for Colorado, his two-run shot off John Grabow in the eighth making it 8-3. The Rockies had a chance to make it interesting, putting two men on base for Giambi, who battled Kerry Wood through a 10-pitch at-bat before striking out.

Soriano’s RBI double put the Cubs ahead 1-0 in the second, and the Rockies tied it in the bottom half on Seth Smith’s sacrifice fly that scored Tulowitzki, but Colorado wasted leadoff doubles in the fifth and sixth innings while the game was still up for grabs.

Smith led off the fourth with a double and Ty Wigginton was hit by a pitch. Ian Stewart, mired in a 2 for 24 slump, popped out to second, Iannetta struck out looking and Hammel grounded out to third.

An inning later, Dexter Fowler led off with a double and took third on catcher Koyie Hill’s throwing error. Jonathan Herrera grounded out to the mound and Giambi was hit by a pitch before Tulowitzki fouled out and Smith grounded out.

Notes
Castro swiped second base in the first inning but was ordered to return to second because of Marlon Byrd’s backswing interfered with Iannetta. … RHP Alan Johnson will make his major league debut Sunday when the Rockies wrap up their three-game series with the Cubs. Johnson, 27, has spent six-plus seasons in the minor leagues, going 56-42 with a 4.55 ERA. … Rockies manager Jim Tracy said Gonzalez was dealing with “stiffness and soreness” related to the flu he played through in New York and it was affecting his offense. Tracy said he’d like to rest Tulowitzki on Sunday in the series finale. … Rockies backup C Jose Morales made his major league debut at 2B in the ninth.

DENVER — Casey Coleman scattered four hits while working into the sixth inning and Starlin Castro went 4 for 5 with a three-run homer in Chicago’s 8-3 win over Colorado tonight that snapped the Rockies’ seven-game winning streak.

Alfonso Soriano also went deep for the Cubs, whose win ended a six-game skid at Coors Field that dated to Aug. 9, 2009.

The Rockies, who were missing Carlos Gonzalez (soreness) and Todd Helton (rest) from their starting lineup, hadn’t been blown out all year, losing just twice in their first 13 games, both in extra innings.

Jason Hammel (1-1) became the first Rockies starter to lose a game all season, allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings.

Despite walking three and hitting two batters, Coleman (1-0) kept the Rockies off balance while giving up just four hits and one run, which came in the second when Troy Tulowitzki tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly that tied the game at 1.

So efficient while jumping out to a baseball-best 11-2 start, the Rockies’ watered-down lineup was 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position, including 0 for 9 against Coleman. Colorado left 13 men on base.

The Cubs, who had 17 hits, broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth when Coleman slapped a one-out single to center and took third on Castro’s double down the left-field line. Coleman scored on Darwin Barney’s slow roller to first baseman Jason Giambi.

Soriano made it 3-1 in the sixth with his fifth homer, which came off Hammel.

The Cubs put it away with a five-run seventh inning with all the runs coming off righty Felipe Paulino, who allowed hits to five of the six batters he faced and was charged with five earned runs. He saw his ERA jump from 1.59 to 9.00.

Castro’s blow was the big one. He sent an 0-1 offering into the left field stands for his first homer, which made it 6-1.

Chris Iannetta homered for Colorado, his two-run shot off John Grabow in the eighth making it 8-3. The Rockies had a chance to make it interesting, putting two men on base for Giambi, who battled Kerry Wood through a 10-pitch at-bat before striking out.

Soriano’s RBI double put the Cubs ahead 1-0 in the second, and the Rockies tied it in the bottom half on Seth Smith’s sacrifice fly that scored Tulowitzki, but Colorado wasted leadoff doubles in the fifth and sixth innings while the game was still up for grabs.

Smith led off the fourth with a double and Ty Wigginton was hit by a pitch. Ian Stewart, mired in a 2 for 24 slump, popped out to second, Iannetta struck out looking and Hammel grounded out to third.

An inning later, Dexter Fowler led off with a double and took third on catcher Koyie Hill’s throwing error. Jonathan Herrera grounded out to the mound and Giambi was hit by a pitch before Tulowitzki fouled out and Smith grounded out.

Notes
Castro swiped second base in the first inning but was ordered to return to second because of Marlon Byrd’s backswing interfered with Iannetta. … RHP Alan Johnson will make his major league debut Sunday when the Rockies wrap up their three-game series with the Cubs. Johnson, 27, has spent six-plus seasons in the minor leagues, going 56-42 with a 4.55 ERA. … Rockies manager Jim Tracy said Gonzalez was dealing with “stiffness and soreness” related to the flu he played through in New York and it was affecting his offense. Tracy said he’d like to rest Tulowitzki on Sunday in the series finale. … Rockies backup C Jose Morales made his major league debut at 2B in the ninth.

Read More: Augie Ojeda (SS – CHC), Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs

Name any other major-league baseball player who has played in the Olympic Games for the United States and for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.

Go ahead. Try.

Look no further than former Arizona Diamondbacks fan favorite Augie Ojeda, who is now happily reunited with his original team, the Chicago Cubs.

Ojeda, a Chandler resident after four seasons with the D-backs, continues to live the dream. He’s 36, and his ride in the big leagues isn’t over. Ojeda and Darwin Barney are battling for a spot on the Cubs’ final roster as utility infielders.

Both are solid fielders. Whomever hits the best in spring training games might be the deciding factor for manager Mike Quade. But Ojeda knows the drill — his career has often been about fighting uphill battles and roster spot competitions, and he keeps showing up at spring training and eventually finding his way to the 25-man roster.

“The best opportunity was coming back (to Chicago) and just playing in Wrigley Field,” Ojeda said of his offseason options after the D-backs granted him free agency when the 2010 season was over. “They have fans everywhere. Everywhere they go, they draw. Playing at home every day for a packed house, the tradition and the hunger of winning because it hasn’t been done in so long. I would like to be part of that and hopefully this year, we can do it.”

Few could have imagined that Ojeda, somewhat small in stature but a giant at heart, would fashion a career out of scrappy, hustling, hard-nose baseball that kept him in demand from one year to the next. His career batting average is .234 and he’s hit seven career home runs since 2000, when he made his major-league debut with the Cubs.

But it’s the hard-nosed approach to the game that endeared Ojeda to Diamondbacks fans in recent years.

He described his playing style as “go out there and give 120 percent every day.”

“Between the lines, play hard, and that’s what the fans like,” Ojeda said, “and that’s why they pay a lot of money to go see major-league baseball. The bottom line is just play hard and play the game the right way, and they appreciate it.”

Whoa, did he really say that? In today’s cutthroat sports world of high salary demands and outrageous contracts, Ojeda, refreshingly, has the fans in mind.   

Fifteen spring trainings, and every year that passes, another baseball buddy of Ojeda’s retires and starts working in another field. But Ojeda isn’t ready to give up living his dream.

“It’s fun, I still enjoy it and I feel great,” Ojeda said. “I’ve been blessed. I thank God every day. I wake up every day and I’m just excited to be here… not in my wildest dreams did I think I would be playing at this age. Hard work pays off. Keep striving at your goal and good things will happen.”

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Boston Red Sox have traded right-handed pitcher Robert Coello to the Chicago Cubs for minor league second baseman Tony Thomas.

Thomas batted .276 with 11 homers and 73 RBIs for Double-A Tennessee last year after being chosen by the Cubs in the third round of the 2007 amateur draft. In 405 minor league games, he is hitting .269 with 34 homers and 196 RBIs.

Coello made his major league debut last September with Boston and had a 4.76 ERA in six relief outings. He had been designated for assignment by the Red Sox last Wednesday. In three minor league seasons he is 13-10 with a 2.91 ERA.

Published: Sunday, February 13, 2011, 7:06 PM     Updated: Sunday, February 13, 2011, 9:11 PM

All signs point to Chicago Cubs infielder Darwin Barney having a strong chance to break spring training with the major league club in April.
 
He performed well during his two-month debut late last season. The team won. The Cubs did not sign a veteran infielder to a major league contract.
 
Plus, the 40-man roster consists of six infielders, around what a big league team would start the season with. Barney is one of them.
 
But despite the positives, the former Oregon State and Southridge High School star is taking nothing for granted.
 
“I think (the Cubs) believe in me and like the player that I am and think that I can help the club,” Barney said from his offseason home in Arizona. “But nothing is for sure. I’m going to have to go out and compete.”
 
Pitchers and catchers report to Cubs spring training in Mesa, Ariz., on Monday. Position players report Friday. Barney, 25,  has been in town since Nov. 1 preparing for what will be the biggest spring training of his young career.
 
A year ago at this time, Barney expected to spend a second season playing shortstop for Triple-A Iowa.
 
By Aug. 12, however, the Cubs were 48-66, had started a youth movement and Barney was making his big league debut.
 
Already called up was the organization’s top prospect, shortstop Starlin Castro.  Barney, a Pacific Coast League All-Star, got his call after the team traded veteran middle infielders Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot.
 
Playing primarily second base with Chicago, Barney batted .217 in August before hitting .250 in September/October to finish at .241.
 
“I left very encouraged,” Barney said.
 
The team won while Barney, who won a state championship at Southridge High School and back-to-back national championships with Oregon State (2006, 2007) and the other young players were in the big leagues.
 
The Cubs were 27-20 from Aug. 12 on and 24-13 under then-interim manager Mike Quade,  who took over when Lou Piniella retired Aug. 22.
 
“I think that was huge for us as a core group of young guys,” Barney said. “And also for the veterans to show them that these young guys can play and they care and that they can bring that to the field every day and we can win.”
 
Quade was named manager in the offseason. Minimal moves were made to tweak the roster in the offseason.
 
With a golden opportunity to stick in the big leagues, Barney set out to improve. He worked with famed Cubs hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo  and hit the weight room, adding 18 pounds to reach 188 on his 5-foot-10 frame while maintaining his speed and quickness.
 
So where does Barney fit in?
 
He’s listed as the backup shortstop behind Castro. But Barney also is in the mix to compete for time at second base with Blake DeWitt, 25,  acquired in the deal that sent Theriot to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Jeff Baker, 29,  who also plays third.
 
There have been reports out of Chicago that Cubs general manager Jim Hendry  could still look to add a veteran infielder from a list that includes Orlando Cabrera, Cristian Guzman and Julio Lugo. But so far, Chicago has signed only veteran infielder Augie Ojeda, 36,  to a minor league deal.
 
DeWitt, who batted .261 last year,  is a left-handed hitter in a predominantly right-handed lineup, which could give him the edge to start. Baker, a right-handed hitter like Barney, could be the leader to platoon there given that he batted .350 against left-handed pitchers last season.
 
Other than Castro, who batted .300 last year,  Barney and Ojeda are the only two infielders with extensive experience playing shortstop.
 
Barney said he hasn’t been told what role he likely would fill. But he does see himself as at least the backup shortstop.
 
“I’d play anywhere,” he said. “I’ve been a shortstop my whole life. That’s where my value is. That’s what my abilities have allowed me to do. I’ll never take that for granted. If anything happens to Castro, where are they gong to go?”
 
That said, Barney is open to playing second base. He worked out there in the offseason and grew comfortable playing second as his time in the big leagues wore on.
 
The muscle added, Barney said, was not to increase his power. He did not hit a home run in the major leagues last year but had four doubles in 79 at-bats.  A lack of big power, his agent Joe Urban  said, shouldn’t hurt Barney’s chances with the team as long as he hits for average, plays good defense and provides speed on the base paths.
 
“If he never hits a home run again and is a 10-year big leaguer, it’s not a weakness,” Urban said.
 
Castro had three home runs last year. DeWitt hit five  and Baker, four.
 
However the roster shakes out, Barney, with a strong spring training, shouldn’t have to worry about spending more time in Iowa.
 
All the signs are there.
 
“I don’t ever bet against Darwin Barney,” Urban said. “His track record, his ability and his success rate speak for themselves. I think if he makes that team he’s going to contribute in a lot of ways over a long season.”