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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Sammy Sosa set a Chicago Cubs' milestone without realizing it.
Sosa hit his 34th home run, one shy of Gary Sheffield for the
major league lead, and
reached 100 RBI for the sixth straight season as the Cubs beat San
Diego 6-3 Saturday and stopped the Padres' season-high, six-game
winning streak.
|  | | Sammy Sosa's three-run homer pushed his RBI total to 100, the sixth straight season he's driven in at least that many runs. |
Sosa tied Sheffield and Barry Bonds for the home-run lead -- Sheffield later took the lead back with a solo shot against Milwaukee Saturday night --
and became the first Cubs' player to reach 100 RBI six consecutive
times. Hack Wilson did it in five straight from 1926-30.
"I did that? Hmmm ... that's good to know," Sosa said after he
was informed of the RBI feat. "The good thing is that we won. We
should have won the last two games we played (against the
Padres)."
Sosa's three-run drive off Woody Williams (6-4), which gave Chicago a 4-0 lead in the third, was the 370th of his career, moving him past Ralph Kiner on the career list and tying Gil Hodges
for 48th place.
"I'm not going to sit back, relax and think about it all right
now," Sosa said. "I want to keep going out every day and playing
hard. Then whatever happens, happens."
Cubs manager Don Baylor hopes to see many more RBI from Sosa,
who set a career high with 158 in 1998, when he hit 66 home runs.
"It's the beginning of August, so I don't know where this is
going to take him in RBIs," Baylor said. "He's been driving in a
lot of big runs, especially in this game. This is an outstanding
accomplishment. No too many can do what he's done."
Kevin Tapani (8-8) allowed one run and six hits in seven innings, and struck out six. He improved to 5-0 against the Padres
in his career.
After consecutive homers by Ryan Klesko and Phil Nevin off Tim
Worrell in the eighth pulled the Padres to 4-3, pinch-hitter Jeff
Reed had a two-run single in the ninth off Donne Wall.
Rick Aguilera got three outs for his 26th save in 33 chances.
Chicago's Joe Girardi left in the ninth after in the face by a
pitch from Williams while attempting to bunt. The ball deflected
off the batting helmet and hit Girardi in the nose, according to
Baylor. Girardi's condition was not immediately known.
"The one good thing is that it didn't hit him directly in the face," Baylor said. "The helmet saved him or he could have been out a long time."
Tapani, coming off the first two-hit game of his career, doubled
off the left-field fence in the third, and scored on Ricky
Gutierrez' single off Williams, who gave up six runs and eight hits
in eight-plus innings.
Sosa later homered in the third when he sent over the 0-1 pitch
over the left-center field fence.
"I tired to overthrow the ball to Sammy," Williams said.
"That's what happens when you overthrow a pitch."
Desi Relaford, in his first game for San Diego since he was
acquired from Philadelphia, hit an RBI single in the fifth and went
2-for-4.
"Tapani pitched well," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. "He
knows how to pitch."
Chicago's Jeff Huson went 4-for-5 for the first four-hit game of
his career.
"I was lucky to get three of them into the outfield," Huson
said. "I hit them where they ain't."
Game notes
Relaford extended the Padres' club record for players used
in one season when became the 50th player to appear in the lineup
this season. ... Cubs manager Don Baylor didn't announce Daniel
Garibay as the scheduled starter for Sunday's game until
after Friday's contest. The rookie left-hander will make his first
appearance against San Diego. ... Padres reliever Trevor Hoffman
rested after appearing in four straight games. He had a blown save
in the first game of that stretch, then recorded three saves to
raise his season total to 28. ... The Cubs will conduct an open
tryout for anyone 16 and older on Tuesday at Glen Ellyn, Ill.
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Baseball Scoreboard
Chicago Cubs Clubhouse
San Diego Clubhouse
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