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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CHICAGO (AP) -- Sammy Sosa is approaching this month the same way
he did last month.
The NL player of the month for July, Sosa led off the eighth
inning Wednesday with his 33rd home run, carrying the Chicago Cubs
to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
|  | | Sammy Sosa breaks into that familiar home-run trot Wednesday. |
"Last month was a great month," said Sosa, who was anxious to
leave June and all the trade speculation behind.
"It's a good feeling after everything that happened to me
before. I'm happy now. The only thing I would do
differently is the trade rumors. Everyone has to go through tough
situations. Thank God he gave me the strength to deal with it. I'm
back and relaxed."
Sosa hit a 2-2 pitch from John Wasdin (0-1) onto Waveland Avenue
over the left field bleachers to give the Cubs their 15th win in 20
games since the All-Star break.
"You're not going to keep Sammy down for good," Rockies
manager Buddy Bell said.
"Two bad locations. Two homers. The debut for me hasn't been
too fun," said Wasdin, who gave up a home run to Mark Grace Monday
night in his first appearance with the Rockies.
However, the Cubs nearly ran themselves out of the game.
Trailing 2-1, the Cubs loaded the bases with one out in the
seventh against Giovanni Carrara. Eric Young hit the ball to left
and Todd Hollandsworth tried to make a leaping catch at the wall
but the ball deflected off his glove. One run scored to tie the
game at 2 but the baserunners, unsure whether Hollandsworth would
make the catch, hesitated. Young didn't stop, passing Brant Brown,
who was at first, and was called out.
"I was looking in the outfield, assuming the run was going to
score," Young said. "I didn't look at the runners until I crossed
second base and passed (Brown)."
"(Young) said he didn't even see me," Brown said.
It was the second baserunning mistake by the Cubs that inning.
Willie Greene had reached on an error and then overran second on
Damon Buford's single and was tagged out.
"Even though we looked like the Bad News Bears, we found a way
to win the game," Cubs manager Don Baylor said.
"We butchered that inning and thankfully, Sammy picked us up,"
Joe Girardi said. "Hopefully, we won't do that anymore."
Steve Rain (3-0) picked up the win, pitching 1 2/3 innings of
one-hit relief. Rick Aguilera pitched the ninth for his 25th save
in 32 opportunities.
It was the Cubs' 14th win in their last at-bat and they have won
10 of their last 12 games.
Gary Matthews Jr. hit a bloop RBI single over second baseman
Todd Walker in the Cubs first.
Walker then tied the game with his second home run leading off
the Rockies second against starter Ruben Quevedo.
Walker singled with one out in the seventh and Todd
Hollandsworth reached on a fielding error by third baseman Greene.
Quevedo walked Brent Mayne to load the bases and was pulled for
Rain who walked pinch-hitter Terry Shumpert, forcing in Walker.
Brian Rose, acquired last Thursday from Boston in a five-player
deal, gave up one run on four hits and one walk over six innings,
striking out five in his Rockies debut.
Quevedo, making his fourth ML start, gave up two runs -- one
earned -- on three hits and three walks over 6 1-3 innings. He
struck out two.
Game notes
Sosa received player of the month honors for the fourth
time in his career. In 26 games in July, he hit .337 with 11 homers
and 24 RBI. His homer was No. 369 of his career, tying him with
Ralph Kiner for 49th on the all-time list. ... Newly acquired left
fielder Rondell White arrived just before the game and was in the
Cubs dugout shaking hands with his new teammates by the third
inning. ... Rookie LHP Phil Norton will make his ML debut Thursday
for the Cubs, starting against San Diego in place of RHP Kerry Wood
who has a cramp in his left side. ... This was Rose's first ML
appearance since June 24. He had started the season as Boston's
fifth starter and went 3-5 with a 6.11 ERA in 15 games (12 starts)
before he was optioned to the minors June 25.
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Baseball Scoreboard
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Kansas City 4
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