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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Eric Owens gave the San Diego Padres an early lift with another big day at the plate. Still, he deflected praise
to the rookie who delivered the game-winning hit.
Mike Darr hit a two-run double in the eighth inning to lift the Padres over the Chicago Cubs 6-5 Thursday for their season-high
fifth straight victory.
"In his first three at-bats, he didn't look very good. But it's
a nine-inning game and he came through," Owens said. "These young
guys are coming up here and proving themselves. When that door
opens, you've got to knock it down."
Owens hit a three-run homer for the Padres and finished 3-for-4
for his fifth straight multihit game. Over that span, he's gone
13-for-23.
"Right now we say that we're building toward next year but
anything can happen," Owens said. "There are two months left. We
just have to go out hard every day. This was fun, to get the win."
Phil Nevin opened the San Diego eighth with a single off Tim
Worrell (1-3) and pinch-runner Damian Jackson stole second on the
next pitch. After Ben Davis singled, Darr doubled to center field
to put the Padres ahead.
Darr, who was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday, had
flied out twice and struck out earlier in the game.
"I have confidence in myself, that I know that I can do the
next time," Darr said. "I'm not the kind of player who's going to
snap. I just go up there and play the game."
Kevin Walker (4-0) went two innings for win and Trevor Hoffman
pitched the ninth for his 27th save in 33 chances.
Sammy Sosa doubled twice for the Cubs, who are 15-6 since the All-Star break. But Hoffman struck him out to end a perfect ninth.
"He got me on a changeup," Sosa said. "On that, you've really
got to tip your hat to him."
The Cubs came back from a 4-0 deficit to move ahead 5-4 in the
sixth against Brian Tollberg on Ricky Gutierrez's RBI single. He
went 3-for-5 with two RBI.
Chicago's Phil Norton made his major league debut and gave up four runs -- three earned -- and five hits in five innings. He was recalled on Monday from Triple-A Iowa, where he was 6-11 with a 5.20 ERA.
"I just calmed down," Norton said. "Some of the guys told me
to just go out and throw. I did that and I was able to put up three
zeros in my last three innings to keep us in the game."
Cubs manager Don Baylor said Norton, who allowed four runs in
the first two innings, will likely be sent down after this start
since this was a temporary promotion.
"He had to be a little nervous in his major league debut, not
knowing the players," Baylor said. "He could have packed it in
but he ended up with a chance to win although we couldn't hold it
for him."
Owens gave the Padres a 4-0 lead in the second with his fifth
homer of the season, which came on the first pitch after Tollberg
singled for his first major league hit.
The Padres scored in the first for the third straight game, when Ryan Klesko came home on a passed ball by Jeff Reed with the bases
loaded. Norton gave up a single and two walks in the inning.
Chicago rallied for three runs in the third on five consecutive
hits, including three doubles. Sosa hit his second double of the
game to score the fist run and Mark Grace followed with a two-run
double.
Eric Young tied it at 4 in the fourth when he reached base on a force out, stole second and came home a single by Gutierrez. Norton led off the inning with his first major league hit.
Game notes
Norton started in place of Kerry Wood, who was sidelined by
cramps in his left side. Norton was the third straight rookie
pitcher to start for Chicago, following Daniel Garibay and Ruben
Quevedo. ... RHP Jay Witasick, acquired from Kansas City on Monday,
is scheduled to make his first San Diego start on Friday. He will
become the 49th player to play for the Padres this season, breaking
the club record set in 1991. ... Gary Matthews Jr., obtained from
San Diego on March 23, made his first appearance against his former
club and went 1-for-4.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Chicago Cubs Clubhouse
San Diego Clubhouse
RECAPS
NY Yankees 3
Kansas City 2
Toronto 3
Texas 1
Cleveland 5
Tampa Bay 1
Florida 4
Houston 3
San Diego 6
Chicago Cubs 5
Arizona 8
Atlanta 4
San Francisco 10
Pittsburgh 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 An optimistic Eric Owens feels the Padres are building some chemistry.
wav: 135 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Trevor Hoffman and the Padres were in need of some positive change.
wav: 110 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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