Davis and Sutcliffe Lead Cubs to First Home Victory, 7-0

The Chicago Cubs’ battery of Jody Davis and Rick Sutcliffe proved to be too much for the Montreal Expos.

Davis had four hits, including a two-run homer, and Sutcliffe drove in three runs with a double and a single, while limiting the Expos to four hits, as the Cubs earned their first home victory of the season with a 7-0 shutout Friday.

Davis credited some changes he made in his swing during spring training for his hitting surge.

“I’m trying to go to right field more,” said the veteran catcher. “I’m staying back with my weight and as a result I’m seeing the ball better. It gives me an opportunity to go up the middle and if the pitch is in, I can pull the ball.

“Before, I was trying to pull everything,” said Davis.

Sutcliffe, who pitched his first complete game since last June and his first shutout since last May, called it “A good day,” adding “Jody’s homer made things a lot easier and I could go out and challenge the hitters.”

Sutcliffe was also pleased with his hitting.

“I care about hitting and I work at it. It’s a big part of the game for me,” he said.

Sutcliffe also stole a base in the fourth inning. Davis had doubled and scored on a single by Sutcliffe, who then stole second.

Asked if he didn’t fear risking an injury by stealing, Sutcliffe said “I can’t play the game that way. I play the game hard. It’s fun to play the game hard.”

Sutcliffe, 2-1, turned in the first complete game of the season by the Cubs’ pitching staff. He walked four and struck out six. It was Chicago’s first win at Wrigley Field this after four defeats.

Davis hit his second home run of the season in the second inning off Floyd Youmans, 0-2, after Leon Durham had singled.

When Davis scored on Sutcliffe’s double in the fourth on a close play at the plate, Youmans argued and was ejected from the game by umpire Eric Gregg.

Davis also singled to start a four-run sixth, which included two-run doubles by Sutcliffe and Andre Dawson.

Davis led off the sixth with a single and went to third on a double by Shawon Dunston. Sutcliffe doubled off the left-field wall, scoring both runners.

With two outs, Ryne Sandberg was safe when first-baseman Wallace Johnson dropped Tim Wallach’s throw from third for an error and Dawson followed with a double to left as Sutcliffe and Sandberg scored.

In three games this season, Youmans has allowed 14 hits and 11 runs in 13 innings.