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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Chicago Cubs didn't need any hits to get
off to a good start against Pittsburgh. Then they got a very big
hit – Sammy Sosa's grand slam – to finish off the Pirates.
|  | | Ramon Martinez struggled for the Pirates, walking five and giving up three runs in three innings. |
The Cubs took a three-run lead in the first inning without the
benefit of a hit and went on to beat the Pirates 8-2 Friday night
behind Jon Lieber's eight effective innings.
With the Cubs up 4-2 in the ninth, Sosa worked the count full
with two outs before hitting Jose Silva's fastball into the
right-field seats for the first grand slam in PNC Park.
It was Sosa's sixth homer in 12 games and his fifth career slam.
The Cubs won their sixth in seven games – they are 4-0 against
Pittsburgh – and are 11-5 for the first time since 1985, when they
opened 17-8.
"The way we're playing is awesome," Sosa said. "Right now,
we're doing everything right, and I hope we can keep it going for
the whole year. We're so excited right now."
Lieber (1-1) withstood Kevin Young's two-run homer in the fourth
to win for the first time in 10 starts since Aug. 30, allowing five
hits to remain unbeaten against his former team.
Lieber is 5-0 in eight starts with two complete games against
Pittsburgh since the Pirates traded him to the Cubs for outfielder
Brant Brown following the 1998 season.
"I don't think about that at all, honestly I don't," Lieber
said. "We're just trying to keep things going as a team. We're
playing very well. We're making big time plays in the field. Guys
are getting big hits when we need them. It's kind of a nice little
streak we've got going."
Lieber, who struck out four and walked none, retired 10 in a row
at one point in the latest of a succession of good outings by a
Cubs staff that leads the NL in team ERA and starters' ERA.
"I didn't think he was exceptionally sharp," Pirates manager
Lloyd McClendon said. "We had a couple of opportunities but
couldn't capitalize."
Cubs manager Don Baylor had a different take, saying, "He was
fantastic. He's just a strike machine."
Pirates starter Ramon Martinez (0-1) was just the opposite,
walking or hitting the first four batters he faced. He lasted
three-plus innings on a 49-degree night, allowing only two hits but
walking five.
Martinez walked Eric Young and Bill Mueller to start the game
and loaded the bases by hitting Rondell White with a pitch. Sosa,
who had five RBI, drew the third walk of the inning to force in a
run. Todd Hundley's force-play grounder scored another, and Ricky
Gutierrez's sacrifice fly made it 3-0 before Martinez got out of
the inning.
Of the 10 Cubs who walked or were hit by a pitch, five scored.
"I was all over the place. I didn't feel comfortable at all,"
said Martinez, making only his second appearance since being
released by the Dodgers in late March. "I'm the kind of pitcher
who needs to pitch in games. It might take me a couple of more
games, and then let's go from there."
The Pirates turned double plays in four of the next five innings
to halt any threats until Gutierrez had a two-out RBI single in the
eighth off Josias Manzanillo.
Kevin Young's homer, his second, followed John Vander Wal's
single in the fourth but couldn't prevent the Pirates' third loss
in six games at PNC Park.
Game notes
Rookie left-hander Joe Beimel followed Martinez with 3 2-3
innings of two-hit relief, getting the Cubs to ground into double
plays in three successive innings. ... Lieber was 0-5 with four
no-decisions during his winless streak. ... Gutierrez was 1-for-10
before going 2-for-3 with two RBI. ... The Pirates have turned at
least one double play in every game since their opener. They lead
the majors with 23 double plays. ... Martinez had been 7-2 against
the Cubs. ... The Cubs' Gary Matthews Jr. moved from center field
to left in the eighth and immediately made an excellent sliding
catch of Abraham Nunez's ball in foul ground. ... The Cubs didn't
win their 11th game last season until May 2.
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OTHER GAMES
Baseball Scoreboard
Chicago Cubs Clubhouse
Pittsburgh Clubhouse
RECAPS
Cleveland 5
Detroit 4
NY Yankees 6
Boston 1
Baltimore 6
Tampa Bay 3
Minnesota 4
Chi. White Sox 1
Toronto 12
Kansas City 4
Texas 9
Oakland 6
Seattle 4
Anaheim 1
Cincinnati 9
NY Mets 5
Florida 5
Montreal 1
Philadelphia 8
Atlanta 3
Chicago Cubs 8
Pittsburgh 2
Houston 10
St. Louis 1
Arizona 3
Colorado 2
Los Angeles 3
San Diego 1
San Francisco 3
Milwaukee 1
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