March 08--SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Cubs began a new era this afternoon with their first radio broadcast since moving up the dial to WBBM-AM 780.
But they remained winless in the Joe Maddon era, falling 7-5 to the Rockies at Salt River Fields.
Kris Bryant and Matt Szczur homered, but the Rockies took a quick lead on Nolan Arenado's three-run home run off Jason Hammel in the first, and never trailed.
The Cubs are now 0-3-1.
WGN-AM 720 had broadcast Cubs games since 1925, and exclusively since 1959, before deciding to go in a new direction.
WBBM hopes to become the first station to broadcast a Cubs championship. Of course, the first radio station didn't come along until 1920, or 12 years after the Cubs last World Series title.
Longtime Cubs play-by-play man Pat Hughes said not to expect any changes in the broadcasts.
"We'll probably set back broadcasting a century," he said. "No, we're very excited. Ron Coomer is a great partner, and we're both excited to start a new era on WBBM. It's my 20th year with the Cubs and I have a certain way of doing the game. Whatever way that is, I'm not exactly sure, but I don't see any real need to make any drastic changes at this point.
"I'm still employed, so I must be doing something right."
Coomer, coming off knee surgery, made his play-by-play debut in the fifth inning, with Hughes providing color.
