Cubs pitcher Chris Volstad ends 24-game winless streak

The 25th time is the charm for Chris Volstad, who had gone 24 starts without a win before Sunday’s 5-0 rain-shortened Chicago Cubs victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Volstad’s winless streak dated back to July 17 of last year, when he was a member of the then-Florida Marlins. He was 0-14 with an earned-run average of 5.27 during that stretch.

His streak will end four starts short of the major league record of 28 consecutive winless starts. Jo-Jo Reyes tied the record last May and now shares it with Matt Keough and Cliff Curtis.

In a game as meaningful as the career of a Kardashian — you pick which one — Volstad went 6 2/3 innings of three-hit ball, walking three and striking out three. The Cubs carried a 2-0 lead into the eighth inning before busting the game open with a three-run frame.

Starlin Castro scored three runs Sunday, twice being driven in by second basemen Darwin Barney. The Cubs bullpen combined for 1 1/3 innings of shutout ball, giving up one hit.

The start of the game was delayed 2 hours 23 minutes by rain. There was another delay following the eighth inning, and the game was called after 30 minutes.

The Cubs’ record improves to 49-77, good for second-worst in the majors. The Rockies drop to 51-75 on the season.

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