DENVER (Interstat) — Edward Cabrera pitched into the sixth inning and Seiya Suzuki hit a grand slam in a four-run fourth inning as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Colorado Rockies 9-3 on Thursday afternoon at Coors Field.

The Cubs, who had lost the first two games of the three-game series, avoided a sweep and improved to 35-34. The Rockies fell to 26-43.

Chicago broke open a 1-1 game in the fourth inning. Pete Crow-Armstrong led off with a single, and after Alex Bregman popped out, Michael Busch singled to put runners at the corners. Ian Happ walked to load the bases, and Suzuki launched a 1-0 pitch over the left-field wall for his 10th home run of the season, scoring Crow-Armstrong, Busch and Happ.

The Cubs added two more runs in the fifth. Dansby Swanson walked to start the inning, Crow-Armstrong grounded out but Bregman walked, and Busch lined a single to right field that scored Swanson. Bregman moved to third on the hit and scored on a sacrifice fly by Happ.

Colorado had taken a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Brett Sullivan hit his second home run of the season, a solo shot to right field off Cabrera. The Rockies answered the Cubs’ grand slam with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth. Troy Johnston singled, and Cole Carrigg followed with his first home run of the year, a solo blast to right that cut the Cubs’ lead to 4-2.

The Cubs stretched the lead again in the seventh. Crow-Armstrong hit a one-out double, and Bregman followed with his sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field that made it 6-2. In the eighth, Carson Kelly hit a solo homer, his third of the season, to push the lead to 7-2.

The Rockies loaded the bases in the sixth but failed to score. With one out, TJ Rumfield walked, Johnston doubled and Carrigg singled to load the bases, but Kyle Karros flied out and Ezequiel Tovar struck out to end the threat.

Colorado scored once more in the ninth when Sullivan hit his second home run of the game, a solo shot to right field, his third of the season. But Willi Castro singled and Rumfield doubled, putting the tying run at the plate, before Hunter Goodman struck out to end the game.

Cabrera earned his fourth win against three losses. He allowed two runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking two. The Cubs bullpen combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings, with several relievers keeping the Rockies at bay.

Ryan Feltner took the loss, now 2-2. He lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits, with three strikeouts and one walk. Blas Castaño pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief, giving up two runs on five hits and striking out two. Sammy Peralta worked two innings, surrendering one run on one hit with three strikeouts.

For the Rockies, Johnston went 3 for 4 with a double. Castro was 2 for 5. Carrigg finished 2 for 4 with a home run and an RBI. Edouard Julien was 1 for 5. Rumfield went 1 for 3 with a double and a walk. Goodman went 0 for 5 with three strikeouts. Sullivan was 2 for 4 with two home runs and two RBIs.

For the Cubs, Suzuki drove in four runs with the grand slam. Bregman had two hits, including a home run, and two RBIs. Busch had two hits and an RBI. Kelly had two hits, including the home run. Crow-Armstrong scored twice and had a double. Happ scored once and drove in a run.

The game drew 35,128 fans at Coors Field and lasted 2 hours, 50 minutes.

The Cubs now travel to San Francisco for a three-game series against the Giants starting Friday. The Rockies head to for a three-game set against the Athletics beginning Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Colorado Rockies 4, Chicago Cubs 3. Interstat’s ELO system had projected the Cubs with a 68.40 percent probability to win. The Cubs had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5. The total score of 12 went under the over-under line of 11.5.