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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CHICAGO (AP) -- Houston manager Larry Dierker didn't expect to
need his closer once the Astros opened an 11-run lead.
No one expected the seventh-inning strip, either.
Sammy Sosa hit his major league-leading 47th home run but the
Astros hung on to beat the Chicago Cubs 13-10 Friday behind solo
homers by Roger Cedeno and Raul Chavez.
"It wasn't a very enjoyable win," Dierker said. "Most of the
time, you don't care how you do it if you just win. Today, we
couldn't throw enough strikes in whatever the zone was."
Sosa hit a three-run homer in the seventh off Jose Cabrera, one
batter after a man ran on the field, stripped and stood on the
pitching mound, making an obscene gesture.
The players stood and watched in amusement while the crowd of
34,439 buzzed. Wrigley Field organist Gary Pressy played "What
Kind of Fool Am I?" as the man, still naked, was escorted off the
field through the stands by security guards.
"He came in and asked the umpire for time out," said Sosa who
was standing on deck. "It was unbelievable."
"It's unfortunate that happened with kids in the stands," Cubs
manager Don Baylor said. "I was not amused. But at least he wasn't
a rally killer."
When the Cubs were in Kansas City in July, a man ran onto the
field and slid, naked, into second base.
"Everybody wants to moon the Cubs," Chicago's Mark Grace said.
Cedeno led off a five-run fourth with his sixth homer, a drive
off Kevin Tapani (8-12), who has allowed a career-high 35 this
season.
Chavez hit his first major league home run in the sixth off
Steve Rain. Chris Truby drove in three runs, Mitch Meluskey drove
in two and Julio Lugo had a career-high five hits for the Astros,
who won their fourth straight.
Wade Miller (5-5) won his third straight start, giving up five
runs. five hits and four walks over 5 1-3 innings.
Backed by an 11-0 lead, he was chased after giving up three home
runs in the sixth -- a leadoff drive by Ricky Gutierrez, a
three-homer by Damon Buford and a solo homer by Willie Greene.
"There's no way you should be bringing in your closer after
being up by that many," Houston's Jeff Bagwell said.
"We only had one hit in the first five innings and then we come
back -- that's a good sign," Sosa said. "A lot of people would
give up. We went up there and we were fighting."
Baylor wasn't too pleased to be in a deep hole, though. Houston
outhit the Cubs 20-10.
"It was just too much to overcome," Baylor said.
Tapani, who lost his third straight decision, gave up seven runs
and 10 hits in 3 1-3 innings. Chicago has lost seven of its last
eight games.
"I just pitched bad," said Tapani, who will meet with Baylor
to decide whether to shut down for the rest of the season. "Every
fastball I threw was up in the zone. It just wasn't too good."
Richard Hidalgo hit a three-run double in the first, giving him
100 RBI for the first time in his career. Hidalgo then scored on
Meluskey's single.
Truby hit a sacrifice fly in the third to make it 5-0.
After Cedeno homered in the fourth and Jeff Bagwell singled with
one out, Hidalgo singled of Jamie Arnold, and Meluskey and Truby
hit two-out RBI singles, and Miller hit a two-run single.
After the Cubs' five-run sixth and three-run seventh made it
11-8, the Astros added two runs in the eighth on a run-scoring wild
pitch by Jerry Spradlin, signed before the game, and a sacrifice
fly by Truby.
Julio Zuleta hit a two-run double in the eighth to make it
13-10.
Octavio Dotel relieved with two on and one out in the ninth and
finished for his 12th save in 15 chances.
Game notes
The stripper was identified as James Short, 43, of
Deerfield, Ill., and he was charged with criminal trespass and
indecent exposure, a Chicago police spokesman said. ... Tapani's
previous career high was 34 homers allowed, set in 1996 with the
White Sox. ... Alou left after three innings with a strained right
hamstring. His status was day to day. Meluskey left after four
innings because of flu-like symptoms. ... Hidalgo has nearly
doubled his previous RBI high of 56, set last year. ... Chicago 2B
Eric Young singled in the third to extend his hitting streak to 12
games. ... Cubs RHP Jon Lieber will start Sunday in place of LHP
Daniel Garibay.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Houston Clubhouse
Chicago Cubs Clubhouse
RECAPS
NY Yankees 4
Boston 0
Chi. White Sox 5
Cleveland 4
Toronto 3
Detroit 0
Texas 6
Kansas City 5
Anaheim 2
Baltimore 1
Tampa Bay 4
Oakland 0
Minnesota 4
Seattle 2
Houston 13
Chicago Cubs 10
Cincinnati 0
Pittsburgh 0
Pittsburgh 3
Cincinnati 1
(2nd game)
Arizona 2
Florida 1
Philadelphia 2
NY Mets 0
Atlanta 3
Montreal 2
Milwaukee 6
St. Louis 5
Colorado 8
Los Angeles 5
San Diego 10
San Francisco 7
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