Sandberg’s Hit Gives the Cubs 6-5 Win Over Error-Prone Mets

Ryne Sandberg has a theory that if he gets enough opportunities, he can get the job done for the Chicago Cubs.

Sandberg’s smash off reliever Roger McDowell’s foot with two outs in the eighth inning chased home two runs Tuesday to lead the Cubs to a 6-5 victory over the New York Mets in a game marked by five Met errors, four in the fourth inning.

“It was nice coming up with guys in scoring position,” said Sandberg. “I didn’t come through earlier but if I get enough chances, I’ll come through sooner or later.”

With one out in the eighth and the score tied, 4-4, Shawon Dunston, who had homered earlier, beat out an infield single off loser Randy Myers (0-1).

Pinch-hitter Bobby Dernier greeted McDowell with a single to left and both runners advanced on Gary Matthews’ ground out to first. Sandberg then hit a smash off McDowell and the ball bounded into short right as both runners scored.

“It was a slider away,” said McDowell. “He hit a good pitch. Give Sandberg credit.”

Despite an 18-mile-an-hour wind blowing in, there were five home runs in the game with all of New York’s runs coming on homers.

Howard Johnson in the second inning and Tim Teufel in the seventh hit two-run homers and Mookie Wilson homered with two outs in the ninth off Lee Smith, who picked up his 15th save.

Dunston and Leon Durham hit solo homers for the Cubs who also scored a pair of unearned runs as the Mets committed four of their errors in the fourth inning.

“I didn’t think they played that poorly,” said Met Manager Davey Johnson about the errors. “There were some bad hops in that field, some tough plays. I don’t think we did the things with the bat that we’re capable of doing.

“We didn’t play well but we were still in the game,” said Johnson, who benched slugger Darryl Strawberry and fined him $250 for arriving late to the park for the second straight day.

Strawberry was sent up as a pinch-hitter in the ninth with a man on first but he took a third strike to end the game.

“Probably not,” said Johnson when asked if Strawberry would start Wednesday in the finale of the three-game series which the Cubs hope to sweep.

The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the first when Sandberg beat out an infield single, went to second on an infield out and scored on Santana’s throwing error on Leon Durham’s grounder.