Thursday, April 25, 2002
Cubs 10, Giants 4
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Fred McGriff couldn't have picked a better time to break out of his slump. McGriff drove in a season-high four runs and sparked a rally with a bases-loaded triple in the sixth inning as the Chicago Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 10-4.
Joe Borowski picked up his first win since 1998, and Mark Bellhorn added a two-run homer for the Cubs, who won for only the second time in seven games.
“You always want to do well,” said McGriff, who raised his average to .235. “You leave the ballpark, go home and think about things. You're always working on your game.”
David Bell hit a solo homer and Tsuyoshi Shinjo drove in two RBIs for the Giants, who were without Barry Bonds. With the temperature dropping, a wet field and a day game Thursday, Bonds got the night off to rest his sore hamstring.
The Cubs had been struggling offensively, particularly at Wrigley Field, where they were averaging just 2.33 runs per game. They hadn't scored more than five runs in their first nine home games.
But they outhit the Giants 14-9 and scored a run in all but two innings.
“We had some hits fall in for a change,” Cubs manager Don Baylor said. “Had some hits at the right time, with the right people in place. We picked up just about every run we had an opportunity to get.”
The Cubs being the Cubs, though, they made it interesting. After Chicago took a 4-1 lead, the Giants tagged Matt Clement for three runs in the sixth inning. J.T. Snow drove in a run, and Shinjo had a two-run single.
But with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Corey Patterson tripled off the center-field wall. Delino DeShields, who had struck out in his first three at-bats, drew a walk against Aaron Fultz (1-1), and the Giants chose to intentionally walk Sammy Sosa and pitch to McGriff.
“Sammy's been swinging the bat good,” McGriff said. “I hadn't been swinging the bat well.”
But the move backfired as McGriff hit a liner over Snow's head that bounced into right field, clearing the bases for a three-run triple. It was only the fourth triple in the last five years for McGriff.
“One guy has 449 home runs, the other 457. You have to pick one,” Giants manager Dusty Baker said. “That's why they bat them like they bat them, with those two and (Moises) Alou — right, left, right. If they keep swinging like that, it'll cause managers to make a lot of decisions.”
Fultz gave up three runs and two hits in two-thirds of an inning. Borowski (1-0) struck out five and walked one in 2 1-3 innings for his first victory since Aug. 18, 1998, when he was with the New York Yankees.
It's been a rough road since then for Borowski, who's bounced around Triple-A Louisville and Iowa, Newark of the Independent League and Monterrey in the Mexican League.
He feels comfortable in Chicago, though, and it's showing in his game.
“Tonight was just one of those nights,” said Borowski, whose ERA dropped to 1.80. “The strike zone seemed like it was humongous, the ball seemed like a golf ball. Everything was working.”
Things were working early for the Cubs, as they took advantage of Giants starter Jason Schmidt. Activated from the disabled list before the game, Schmidt's season debut was a little rough.
Bellhorn hit a two-run homer off of him in the second, and McGriff had an RBI single in the third.
“I felt better than I thought I would,” Schmidt said. “I still have some things to work out mechanically. I don't feel like myself like last year. I was more like just throwing it out there, not throwing.”
But the Giants bailed Schmidt out in the top of the sixth. Snow had an RBI single, and a wild pitch by Clement moved Jeff Kent to third and Snow to second.
Clement struck out Benito Santiago, but Shinjo hit a two-run single to center on the first pitch to tie the game at 4.
“It's always nice to win,” McGriff said. “Losing is no fun.”
Notes: After the game, the Cubs sent LHP Jesus Sanchez to Triple-A Iowa and called up Ron Mahay, who is 0-0 with one save and a 0.00 ERA in 8 2-3 innings. Sanchez was 0-0 with a 7.36 ERA. ... The game started after a 30-minute rain delay. ... This was the 44th time McGriff has drive in four or more runs. ... The Cubs scored in the second inning for the first time this season. ... The game was stopped for about five minutes in the bottom of the sixth when Giants LF Marvin Benard complained of fans throwing debris on the field. ... DeShields struck out four times.
Reds Stories
Frerotte just wants a chance
Golf Course Spotlight
Turf care a task for all seasons
Golf tip from Gary Player
UK selects Prince as MVP
Coming up this week
Lebanon's Merchant retires after 25 years
Cincinnati high school highlights
Cincinnati high school results
High School Baseball Notebook
High School Tennis Notebook
High School Track Notebook
• Return to Reds front page...
Cubs 10, Giants 4 
