Cubs Are Happy to Help Padre Woes Continue in 6-2 Win

Don’t expect the Chicago Cubs to extend any sympathy to the San Diego Padres.

The Cubs, who lost their first 14 games, collected a season-high 16 hits and beat the Padres, 6-2, Thursday at San Diego, the 14th loss in 18 games for the defending NL West champion Padres.

Sammy Sosa went four for five and Brian McRae was three for five with a home run.

“Nobody felt sorry for us when we were struggling, and we’re not about to feel sorry for them,” McRae said. “We’re happy to come in here and get two wins. I don’t care if they get hot after we leave.”

McRae and Sosa each scored twice. Fernando Valenzuela (1-4) gave up a season-high 10 hits in five innings, including McRae’s three hits and a home run by Jose Hernandez.

The Cubs took two of three from the reeling Padres and won their second series of the year.

The Padres haven’t had consecutive victories since sweeping a two-game series at Philadelphia April 11 and 13.

Padre outfielder Rickey Henderson aggravated a right calf strain while running to first base and will be put on the disabled list today.

Pittsburgh 10, Colorado 8--The Pirates won’t return to Coors Field until August. They probably can’t wait.

The usually light-hitting Pirates pounded Colorado pitching for the second consecutive day at Denver.

Jason Kendall’s three-run double keyed an eight-run fourth inning as the Pirates posted their third victory in a row and swept the two-game series at Coors Field.

The Pirates, who had 14 hits, reached Colorado pitchers for 24 runs and 31 hits in the two games. In its previous eight games, Pittsburgh scored only 17 runs.

St. Louis 6, Philadelphia 2--Gary Gaetti had a three-run double and Andy Benes pitched a five-hitter at St. Louis.

Ray Lankford also continued a hot start with a hit and two RBIs for the Cardinals. St. Louis has won nine of the last 12 to climb to a game below .500 at 16-17 after a franchise-worst 0-6 start.

The Phillies lost for the ninth time in 12 games and also lost starting pitcher Matt Beech, who sprained his right ankle running the bases in the fifth inning and had to be helped off the field.

Lankford, who sat out most of the first month recovering from rotator cuff surgery, is batting .415 with five home runs and 14 RBIs in 15 games.

Houston 4, New York 2--Derek Bell had a home run and a double and drove in two runs for the Astros at Houston.

Mike Hampton (2-3) matched his longest outing of the season, scattering seven hits over seven innings. He struck out five and walked only one.

Billy Wagner pitched the ninth and struck out the side for his seventh save in seven chances.

Bell, in a season-long slump, hit his first home run and his sixth double. The two RBIs gave Bell 10 for the season after he had 113 last year.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Ray Lankford

Team: St. Louis

Performance: Hitting .415 since returning from DL

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Derek Bell

Team: Houston

Performance: Breaks out of slump with homer, three hits

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Brian McRae

Team: Chicago

Performance: Double, homer, three hits, two runs

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Tony Gwynn

Team: San Diego

Performance: Career hit 2,606, 59th all-time

Team’s Result: Loss

PITCHING

Player: Tony Saunders

Team: Florida

Performance: Six shutout innings and hits a homer

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Billy Wagner

Team: Houston

Performance: Strikes out side; 7 chances, 7 saves

Team’s Result: Win