NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Cubs’ Home Losing Streak Continues, 7-5

Their frustrations mounting after a record-tying eighth consecutive loss at Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs made some noise Wednesday. Most of it, though, was off the field.

Angry shouts and profanities, originating from a weight room, resounded through the Chicago clubhouse after a 7-5 loss to the Houston Astros.

One of the players involved was shortstop Shawon Dunston, who did not play Wednesday. Back problems have caused Dunston to miss most of the last two seasons. He had been told a day earlier by Manager Tom Trebelhorn he would not play to rest his back.

At one point Dunston could be heard yelling: “Get off me. Get off me. . . . Don’t push me.” However, there were no signs of a scuffle. Dunston, who refused to comment on the incident, might have been responding to needling.

Chicago’s eighth consecutive home loss to open the season ties a club record set in 1957. The Cubs have lost six in a row overall and 10 of 13.

“We’re not winning games and I’m getting a little sick of us not playing up to our potential,” said catcher Rick Wilkins, whose eighth-inning throwing error helped Houston score twice and break a 5-5 tie. “If you play well and get beat, that’s one thing. But we’re not. It’s frustrating. We’ve got to stop making the stupid mistakes we’re making and play fundamental baseball. We’re not doing that right now.”

Colorado 16, Florida 6--Andres Galarraga drove in five runs with two home runs and Ellis Burks knocked in four runs with a homer and double to lead the Rockies at Denver.

The Rockies had 16 hits, nine for extra bases, with Burks, the NL’s leading hitter (.469), putting the Rockies ahead, 2-0, in the second with a two-run homer off Marlin starter Pat Rapp, who had not given up a home run in his previous 58 2/3 innings.

San Francisco 5, Philadelphia 4--Barry Bonds’ two-run single in the fifth inning helped Bill Swift to his third victory as the Giants defeated the Phillies at San Francisco.

Swift (3-1), who started with an 0.42 earned-run average, gave up a leadoff home run to Lenny Dykstra, and yielded three runs, five hits and walked four in 6 2/3 innings. Mike Jackson got the final four outs for his third save.

St. Louis 8, Atlanta 3--The Braves lost consecutive games for the first time since last Aug., giving up a three-run home run to Todd Zeile and a two-run homer to Ray Lankford at Atlanta.

Bob Tewksbury (4-0) became the National League’s first four-game winner. Tom Glavine (2-1) gave up three runs and eight hits in five innings, struck out six and walked five.

Cincinnati 5, Pittsburgh 4--Pittsburgh remained the major leagues’ only winless road team as Hal Morris drove in five runs, matching his career high at Cincinnati.

Morris drove in three runs off Paul Wagner (1-2), then singled home two go-ahead runs in the seventh off Jeff Ballard. Pittsburgh is 0-5 on the road and has been outscored, 27-7.

Montreal 4, San Diego 2--Jeff Fassero gave up two hits in 7 2/3 innings to win for the first time in four starts this season, and Moises Alou had three hits for the Expos at San Diego. Fassero (1-1) struck out eight and walked three. Mel Rojas pitched the ninth for his first save.