Late Grand Slam by Rockies Sends Cubs' Playoff Hopes Sinking

Rockies' Connor Joe homers in the bottom of the ninth to stun Cubs

Cubs drop fourth straight; magic number remains at four

The Colorado Rockies' playoff hopes were dealt a major blow on Friday night when they fell to the Chicago Cubs 6-3 in a game that saw the Rockies score three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Trailing 3-2 with two outs in the ninth, the Rockies loaded the bases against Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel. Connor Joe then came to the plate and hit a 1-2 pitch over the wall in left field for a grand slam that gave the Rockies a 6-3 lead.

The Cubs' bullpen had been lights-out all night, but Kimbrel faltered in the ninth and the Rockies took advantage. The loss dropped the Cubs to 81-71 on the season and kept them four games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central.

With just 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Cubs' playoff hopes are dwindling. They will need to win at least six of their remaining games and hope that the Brewers lose at least three of theirs in order to force a one-game playoff.

The Rockies, meanwhile, improved to 76-76 with the win and are now just one game out of the second wild-card spot in the NL.

The two teams will face each other again on Saturday night in the second game of their series.