Baseball Guru
04-04-2002, 05:16 AM
By JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer
April 3, 2002, 11:03 PM EST
CINCINNATI -- Sammy Sosa hit his first home run of the season, and Kerry Wood struck out 10 in only five innings Wednesday night to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 10-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
The lopsided game got heated in the ninth, when Reds reliever Luis Pineda hit two batters and was ejected by plate umpire Mike Everitt. Both benches and bullpens emptied, but no punches were thrown.
Corey Patterson drove in a career-high four runs for the Cubs.
Wood (1-0) came out for a pinch-hitter in the sixth. The right-hander didn't last any longer because one wild inning took its toll.
Wearing elbow-length sleeves on a 41-degree night, Wood had an overpowering fastball and not much else. He threw 34 pitches in the second inning alone -- only 14 were strikes -- and needed 104 pitches to get through five.
While Wood's control faded in and out, Chicago's offense finally locked in. The Cubs couldn't get a big hit during their 5-4 loss on opening day, stranding 14 runners.
Patterson, a free swinger trying to be more patient this season, doubled home Chicago's first run off Elmer Dessens (0-1), who lasted only 3 2-3 innings.
Todd Hundley hit a two-run homer in the fourth, Patterson had an RBI single and third baseman Aaron Boone dropped Sosa's high popup, letting Patterson score for a 5-2 lead.
Patterson, who went 3-for-4, singled home two more runs off Jim Brower in the sixth, and Sosa followed with a two-run homer to right. In two games, Patterson is 5-for-7 with three singles, a double, a triple, three walks and five RBIs.
The Reds had a game reminiscent of their 2001 season, when they lost a club-record 54 at home. They managed only six hits, their starter fizzled fast and their defense drew hoots.
In addition to Boone's error, shortstop Barry Larkin backed off Alex Gonzalez's fly into shallow left at the last second -- apparently someone called him off -- and the ball fell untouched for a double.
Wood started the game throwing a 95 mph fastball that the Reds couldn't touch. He struck out the first two batters on six pitches, and his first eight pitches were strikes.
When he started mixing in the rest of his pitches, he got in trouble fast. Boone singled to start the second, Adam Dunn walked on four pitches, and Juan Encarnacion singled on a full count for a run.
With reliever Jesus Sanchez warming up, Wood walked Jason LaRue on four pitches gave up a run-scoring groundout by Dessens.
Wood struck out four of the next six batters, turning back to his fastball. He gave up three hits and walked four overall to remain unbeaten against the Reds.
Wood is 6-0 in seven career starts against Cincinnati with a 1.34 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 47 innings.
Notes:@ LF Moises Alou was out of the Cubs' lineup again with a strained right calf. Manager Don Baylor said it's premature to think about putting him on the disabled list. "By the time we get to the weekend, I think we'll have a better idea," he said. ... Mark Bellhorn started at third base and went 1-for-5. Baylor is trying to get the newcomers in the lineup so they can get over their jitters. ... The Reds signed infielder Kevin Jordan to a minor league contract and released minor league outfielder Jermaine Allensworth. Jordan was released by the Phillies last Friday after hitting .273 with one homer and six RBIs in 20 games this spring. ... In their first two games, Reds starters have lasted a total of 8 2-3 innings. Their bullpen pitched the most innings in the NL last season.
AP Sports Writer
April 3, 2002, 11:03 PM EST
CINCINNATI -- Sammy Sosa hit his first home run of the season, and Kerry Wood struck out 10 in only five innings Wednesday night to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 10-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
The lopsided game got heated in the ninth, when Reds reliever Luis Pineda hit two batters and was ejected by plate umpire Mike Everitt. Both benches and bullpens emptied, but no punches were thrown.
Corey Patterson drove in a career-high four runs for the Cubs.
Wood (1-0) came out for a pinch-hitter in the sixth. The right-hander didn't last any longer because one wild inning took its toll.
Wearing elbow-length sleeves on a 41-degree night, Wood had an overpowering fastball and not much else. He threw 34 pitches in the second inning alone -- only 14 were strikes -- and needed 104 pitches to get through five.
While Wood's control faded in and out, Chicago's offense finally locked in. The Cubs couldn't get a big hit during their 5-4 loss on opening day, stranding 14 runners.
Patterson, a free swinger trying to be more patient this season, doubled home Chicago's first run off Elmer Dessens (0-1), who lasted only 3 2-3 innings.
Todd Hundley hit a two-run homer in the fourth, Patterson had an RBI single and third baseman Aaron Boone dropped Sosa's high popup, letting Patterson score for a 5-2 lead.
Patterson, who went 3-for-4, singled home two more runs off Jim Brower in the sixth, and Sosa followed with a two-run homer to right. In two games, Patterson is 5-for-7 with three singles, a double, a triple, three walks and five RBIs.
The Reds had a game reminiscent of their 2001 season, when they lost a club-record 54 at home. They managed only six hits, their starter fizzled fast and their defense drew hoots.
In addition to Boone's error, shortstop Barry Larkin backed off Alex Gonzalez's fly into shallow left at the last second -- apparently someone called him off -- and the ball fell untouched for a double.
Wood started the game throwing a 95 mph fastball that the Reds couldn't touch. He struck out the first two batters on six pitches, and his first eight pitches were strikes.
When he started mixing in the rest of his pitches, he got in trouble fast. Boone singled to start the second, Adam Dunn walked on four pitches, and Juan Encarnacion singled on a full count for a run.
With reliever Jesus Sanchez warming up, Wood walked Jason LaRue on four pitches gave up a run-scoring groundout by Dessens.
Wood struck out four of the next six batters, turning back to his fastball. He gave up three hits and walked four overall to remain unbeaten against the Reds.
Wood is 6-0 in seven career starts against Cincinnati with a 1.34 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 47 innings.
Notes:@ LF Moises Alou was out of the Cubs' lineup again with a strained right calf. Manager Don Baylor said it's premature to think about putting him on the disabled list. "By the time we get to the weekend, I think we'll have a better idea," he said. ... Mark Bellhorn started at third base and went 1-for-5. Baylor is trying to get the newcomers in the lineup so they can get over their jitters. ... The Reds signed infielder Kevin Jordan to a minor league contract and released minor league outfielder Jermaine Allensworth. Jordan was released by the Phillies last Friday after hitting .273 with one homer and six RBIs in 20 games this spring. ... In their first two games, Reds starters have lasted a total of 8 2-3 innings. Their bullpen pitched the most innings in the NL last season.