MLB
  Scores
  Schedules
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries: AL | NL
  Players
  Weekly Lineup
  Message Board
  Minor Leagues
  MLB Stat Search

Clubhouses

Sport Sections
  Wednesday, Jun. 7 2:20pm ET
Sosa homers in Cubs' 9-4 victory
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

CHICAGO (AP) -- The only dispute in the Chicago Cubs' clubhouse after Wednesday's game was over who hit the longer home run this season, Sammy Sosa or Glenallen Hill.

Sosa, in a controversy with manager Don Baylor over what the outfielder said is negative criticism, hit a solo home run to lead the Cubs to a 9-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Eric Young also hit a solo homer as the Cubs handed Brian Anderson his first loss in 19 starts.

Hill, Damon Buford and Mark Grace each added two RBI for the Cubs, whose three-game sweep was their first against the Diamondbacks.

Arizona dropped its fifth straight, its longest losing streak since the team lost eight straight from May 5-13, 1998.

"They're in a mini-slump right now," Baylor said. "They'll get it going."

Anderson (5-1) gave up nine runs on 10 hits and four walks over 5 2/3 innings for his first defeat since a 7-5 loss to Seattle on July 19, 1999.

"He deserved much better," Arizona manager Buck Showalter said.

"I didn't feel too bad out there," Anderson said. "After the third inning, basically I was just trying to eat up innings and save our bullpen. By then, we knew it was out of hand."

Scott Downs (3-1) won his second consecutive start, giving up three runs -- two earned -- six hits, one walk and three strikeouts over six innings. Todd Van Poppel pitched the final three innings for his second save.

"Confidence is big," Downs said when asked about his turnaround. "I don't think it's physical. It's confidence, getting things to work."

Young hit his fifth homer to lead off the sixth to give the Cubs an 8-3 lead. Sosa followed two batters later with his 18th, a towering shot into the bleacher seats in straightaway center, to chase Anderson.

The homer was estimated at 520 feet. Hill hit one that landed on a rooftop across Waveland Avenue with a conservative guess of 490 feet.

"I know Glenallen is going to dispute the distance," Baylor said. "One leaves the ballpark and lands on the roof and the other stays in the ballpark and is longer."

"I was just happy to make contact," Sosa said.

Sosa also committed a fielding error in the seventh that led to another Diamondbacks run. It was Sosa's third error in his last four games.

Sosa and Baylor planned to meet to discuss their differences. Sosa said he felt he has been unfairly criticized by Baylor since he was named manager in November.

"We'll talk like men, not like children," Baylor said. "This is not something I want in my clubhouse at all."

With two outs in the third, Tony Womack scored from second on Young's fielding error to give Arizona a 1-0 lead.

The Cubs sent 11 batters to the plate in a six-run third. With two outs and runners at first and second, Grace hit an RBI double. Sosa was intentionally walked and Hill hit a broken-bat single to drive in two runs to give the Cubs a 3-1 lead. Buford doubled to right, scoring Sosa and Hill, and Buford scored on Willie Greene's double to make it 6-1.

Grace added an RBI single in the fourth.

Gonzalez hit his 14th homer to lead off the Arizona sixth. Matt Williams and Steve Finley each singled, and Williams scored when Greg Colbrunn grounded into a double play.

Next up for the Cubs after an off day is an interleague showdown with crosstown rival, Chicago White Sox, who have the best record in the American League.

"This is what interleague play should be," Baylor said. "It'll be rocking over there. They're playing well and we'll have to play our best to beat them."

Notes: Randy Johnson will start Friday for Arizona after missing one start because of tenderness in his left shoulder. ... Anderson had faced 117 consecutive batters without issuing a walk until Grace drew one in the first inning Wednesday. ... This was the Cubs' second sweep. They also took three games against Atlanta April 10-13.

 


ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard

Arizona Clubhouse

Chicago Cubs Clubhouse


Cubs' Baylor hopes to resolve rift with seething Sosa


RECAPS
Chi. White Sox 6
Cincinnati 4

Los Angeles 11
Texas 6

Oakland 10
San Diego 4

Florida 6
Boston 2

NY Yankees 7
Montreal 2

Pittsburgh 4
Detroit 3

St. Louis 4
Kansas City 2

NY Mets 11
Baltimore 3

Philadelphia 5
Tampa Bay 4

Toronto 12
Atlanta 8

Minnesota 2
Houston 0

Cleveland 9
Milwaukee 5

Anaheim 10
San Francisco 9

Colorado 6
Seattle 1

Chicago Cubs 9
Arizona 4