DENVER – The Chicago Cubs lost to the Colorado Rockies 5-1 in their first road game on Friday, dropping to 1-2 on the season.

How it happened: Troy Tulowitzki broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run double in the fifth off of Cubs starter Travis Wood, who didn’t finish the inning. The Rockies took a 1-0 lead in the second on a two-out double by pitcher Tyler Matzek, followed by a run-scoring single by DJ LeMahieu after left fielder Matt Szczur misplayed Matzek’s fly ball. A Szczur sacrifice fly in the third inning plated Anthony Rizzo to tie the game, but Colorado took the lead for good two innings later. Justin Morneau hit a solo shot in the sixth and Corey Dickerson doubled home a run to extend the lead further. Wood gave up seven hits in less than five innings. The Cubs offense managed just five hits.

What it means: Some warmer weather didn’t heat up the Cubs at the plate as they continue to struggle to put hits together. They did have some runners on base in the form of four walks, but the big hit eluded them. The sacrifice fly by Szczur in the third came after the Cubs loaded the bases with none out, so scoring only once was a victory for Colorado.

Rizzo on base: Rizzo reached four times. He was on base twice after getting hit by a pitch and once by bunting down the third0base line. He raised his on-base percentage in the first three games to .636. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Rizzo became the first player to be hit by a pitch three times in his team’s first three games of the season since Andres Galarraga with the 2000 Atlanta Braves.

Pitchers hitting eighth: For the first time since July 2008, , according to the Elias Sports Bureau, both starting pitchers in a major league game hit eighth in the batting order. Wood hit there for the Cubs and Matzek was in the 8-hole for the Rockies. Before the game, Maddon joked that he copied the idea from Tony La Russa. Rockies manager Walt Weiss, who played for La Russa, also copied it from him.

“Our whole lives are one big plagiaristic moment,” Maddon said. “It’s how we decipher the information and use it ourselves that makes us all unique.”

Baez on leave: Before the game, Maddon said Triple-A Iowa infielder Javier Baez should take as much time as he needs away from the game while dealing with the death of his sister earlier this week.

“This is part of being a human being,” Maddon said. “And when it happens, when you’re younger, your mortality door is more visible.”

What’s next: Game 2 of the series takes place Saturday night when Jason Hammel faces Kyle Kendrick.