Roosevelt Brown is congratulated by Fred McGriff after Brown drilled a two-run home run in the first inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        CHICAGO — It was a bad day for a bad first inning at Wrigley Field. Game-time temperature was 53 degrees and dropping. The wind was blowing in at 16 mph. Sammy Sosa wasn't even hitting balls out in batting practice. That's the rough definition of a pitcher's day in the Friendly Confines.

        “It was too tough a day to spot them four in the first inning,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “With the wind blowing and their pitcher throwing good stuff, you're doomed.” Boone's theory was proved correct in the Reds' 5-2 loss to the Cubs before a crowd of the 33,949 at Wrigley.

        The game was essentially over before the Cubs made their second out of the game. They had taken a 4-0 lead pff Joey Hamilton by then. The Reds were able to avoid the blowout and the shutout, but the loss was unavoidable.

        “We hit a couple of balls that hung up in the wind,” Boone said. “When that happens, you have a tendency to start overswinging.”

        Chicago starter Matt Clement ended up equaling a career-high with 12 strikeouts. He set the career-high in his last start Saturday.

        The game turned on a couple balls hit back to Hamilton in the first inning. Delino DeShields led of the Cub first with a single. Corey Patterson then hit a ball back that Hamilton fielded with a quick swipe of his glove.

        “I felt like pulled my arm out of socket,” Hamilton said. “I'm not that limber. But I don't want to use that an excuse.”

        After a trip by the Reds trainers and a couple warm-up tosses, Hamilton continued. He ended up walking Sosa. Then Fred McGriff hit a ball right back at Hamilton.

Reds catcher Jason LaRue talks with pitcher Joey Hamilton after the Cubs scored four runs off Hamilton in the first inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        “I jammed him on it,” Hamilton said. “It was a little looper, five feet in front of me. I decided to let it drop and go for the double play. But it took a funny bounce and spun to my right.”

        By the time he got the ball and looked to second, Hamilton knew his only play was to first. He threw wildly there.

        “I threw (first baseman Sean) Casey a sinker,” Hamilton said.

        The ball went down the first base line. Hamilton was given two errors on the play, and, fittingly, because the Cubs were given two runs. DeShields and Sosa scored and McGriff ended up at second.

        Roosevelt Brown made it 4-0 by hitting a 1-1 pitch out to right field.

        “It was a change-up,” Hamilton said. “I threw him a change-up the pitch before and he looked terrible on it. I thought if I threw a change on the outer half, he'd swing over it. It wasn't anywhere near the outer half. It was right down the middle and belt high.”

        Hamilton walked the next two hitters. The Reds, counting on their bullpen to cover them Sunday, were in danger of losing their starter in the first inning. But after a trip to the mound by pitching coach Don Gullett, Hamilton settled down and got the last two outs.

        He was OK after that.

        Still, the play on McGriff's ball had Hamilton wondering afterward. If he catches the ball, it's two outs and runners at first and third.

        “It's a totally different situation,” Hamilton said. “I've got a base open and right-handed hitter on deck.”

        Hamilton went on to pitch six innings. He gave up another run in the sixth inning.

        That was a lot given the way Clement was throwing.

        “He's always had good stuff,” Boone said. “When he's locating, he's tough.”

        Boone thought his stuff was a little too good. During the fourth inning, Boone went out to tell first base umpire Tim McClelland that Clement was licking his hands and putting them on the ball.

        “The rule book says you can't do that,” Boone said. “Tim McClelland says you can.”

        The Reds had a few chances against Clement. Todd Walker reached on an error in the first, and Adam Dunn singled an out later. But Aaron Boone struck out. After the runners moved up on wild pitch, Casey struck out.

        Clement retired 15 of the next 17 before Boone and Casey hit back-to-back singles in the sixth. But Juan Encarnacion lined out to right.

        The Reds got a pair of runs off Jeff Fassero in the eighth. Casey drove them in with a two-out single.

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