Cubs (0-10) Tie League Futility Record

What else can go wrong for the Chicago Cubs?

They can’t field and they can’t win. And now on top of bad baseball comes bad luck.

The Chicago Cubs tied the modern National League record for season-opening futility, losing their 10th consecutive game.

Michael Tucker’s eighth-inning triple gave the Atlanta Braves a 6-4 victory over the Cubs at Chicago on Sunday.

The Cubs tied the futility mark set by Atlanta in 1988. They can match the all-time NL mark of 0-11, set by the Detroit Wolverines in 1884, when they play Colorado on Tuesday. The record for worst start in the majors is 0-21 by the 1988 Baltimore Orioles.

In addition to the loss, the Cubs also lost second baseman Ryne Sandberg, who was injured while sitting in the dugout in the fourth inning. He suffered a cut ear when hit by a line drive foul off the bat of teammate Brant Brown.

“It’s kind of the way things are. It’s up to us to change things,” Cubs Manager Jim Riggleman said.

“You can’t ignore what your record is when it’s this poor. We can’t do any worse than 0-10, that’s as bad as you can get after 10 games obviously.”

Chicago committed three more errors and have 17 in 10 games. The Braves scored two unearned runs in the top of the eighth.

Jeff Blauser singled and pinch hitter Keith Lockhart hit a slow roller to first. Brown, replacing the injured Mark Grace at first, picked up the ball and threw to second but hit Blauser in the helmet and both runners were safe. With two outs, Tucker hit a two-run triple off Turk Wendell (0-1).

St. Louis 6, Houston 2--Alan Benes gave up two hits in seven innings and the Cardinals tied an NL record with four consecutive doubles at St. Louis.

The Cardinals have won three of their last four games after a franchise-worst 0-6 start. They’re 2-4 against the NL Central-leading Astros, whom they beat 11 of 13 times last season.

Benes (1-1) struck out nine, including Jeff Bagwell, Luis Gonzalez and Derek Bell in order in the seventh. He walked one and retired 16 of the last 17 batters he faced.

Dennis Eckersley got the last two outs for his second save.

With one out in the fourth inning, Dmitri Young, Ron Gant, Gary Gaetti and John Mabry doubled in succession off Mike Hampton (1-2). The record for four consecutive doubles in an inning is shared by many clubs; the most recent team to do it was the New York Mets on July 29, 1991, against the Dodgers.

The Cardinals have 14 doubles in their first nine games. Young and Royce Clayton are tied for the team lead with four apiece.

Cincinnati 6, Florida 4--Pokey Reese hit a pivotal three-run homer, one day after he won a game with his first major league hit, and the Reds held on in the cold at Cincinnati.

Reese’s first major league home run off Al Leiter (2-1) in the fourth inning completed a stellar weekend for the 23-year-old shortstop, who was promoted from the minors to replace an injured Barry Larkin.

Reese’s first major league hit--a single--drove in the winning run in a 2-1, 10-inning victory Saturday. His second hit put the Reds up 5-1 Sunday.

Pitcher Dave Burba (2-1) gave up two runs on two hits and six walks in 6 1/3 innings, rebounding from one of the worst starts of his career. Burba gave up a career-high 10 runs and 10 hits in only 3 1/3 innings during a 13-2 loss to the Rockies in Colorado last Monday.

Montreal 8, Colorado 3--Henry Rodriguez had the second four-hit game of his career and pitcher Carlos Perez homered at Colorado as the Expos snapped the Rockies’ seven-game winning streak.

The victory ended the Expos’ five-game losing streak.

Perez (2-0), who missed all last season following rotator cuff surgery, gave up five hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings. Omar Daal pitched three scoreless innings for his first save.

Colorado starting pitcher Kevin Ritz (1-2) gave up 10 hits and five runs in four-plus innings.

Rockies relief pitcher Darren Holmes homered in the fifth for his first major league hit.

San Diego 3, Philadelphia 1--Ken Caminiti’s run-scoring double in the top of the ninth inning snapped a 1-1 tie, and the Padres continued their domination of the Phillies with a win at Philadelphia.

The Padres swept the rain-abbreviated two-game set to make it seven consecutive series victories over the Phillies. Philadelphia last won a series against San Diego in 1995.

Tim Scott pitched a scoreless inning to win his first game, and Trevor Hoffman retired the Phillies in the ninth, striking out two for his second save this season and the 100th of his career.

Steve Finley opened the ninth with a walk on four pitches off Phillies reliever Ricky Bottalico. Bottalico, a loser in his first decision, then threw two straight balls to Caminiti before he doubled.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Mark Lewis San Francisco 3 for 3, 2 HR, 4 runs, 2 RBI Won Jeff Kent San Francisco 2 for 2, 1 HR, 1 double, 3 RBI Won Eric Karros Dodgers 4 for 4, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, 2 runs

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Alan Benes St. Louis 7 innings, 2 hits, Won O runs, 9 strikeouts Joey Hamilton San Diego 7 innings, 5 hits, Won 1 run, 7 strikeouts Carlos Perez Montreal 5 1/3 innings, Won 5 hits, 1 earned run

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