Cubs Sink to Uncharted Depths, 0-12

They’re 0 for 1997, winless in 12 games. The Chicago Cubs, those lovable losers without a pennant since 1945, are now record-setters.

Just when it appeared they couldn’t go any lower, they did Wednesday in a 4-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Chicago that gave the Cubs the worst start in National League history.

Losing is difficult enough, but the embarrassing baseball the Cubs played Wednesday--with mental blunders and physical errors--made the day an even tougher one for Manager Jim Riggleman.

“That is the worst baseball game I’ve seen played at this level in terms of mistakes that were made and offensively and defensively,” Riggleman said. “We’re unhappy about the losing streak but all of us are totally ashamed.”

The Cubs have lost 26 of 28 games, including the end of last season, and have the fourth-worst start ever, trailing the 1904 Washington Senators and 1920 Detroit Tigers (each 0-13) and the 1988 Baltimore Orioles (0-21).

Chicago, which committed three more errors, giving it 21 for the season, broke the modern NL record of 0-10 set by Atlanta in 1988 and the overall NL record of 0-11 by the 1884 Detroit Wolverines.

Rockie Roger Bailey (2-0) pitched a five-hitter for his first career shutout and complete game.

Atlanta 7, Cincinnati 1--Kenny Lofton homered and went four for five to raise his batting average above .400 and the Braves stretched their winning streak to five at Atlanta.

The Braves, who have won 11 of 12 since opening the season with two losses, prevailed again even though Greg Maddux missed his scheduled start because of a strained hamstring and Chipper Jones was limited to pinch-hitting duties because of a strained groin muscle.

Lofton is playing a major role in the Braves success, hitting .406 (26 of 64) in his first 14 games. Wednesday, he scored two runs and drove in a run.

Terrell Wade, filling in for Maddux, made his first start of the season and gave up three hits and an unearned run in 4 1/3 innings.

San Diego 7, Pittsburgh 5--Fernando Valenzuela made his second strong start against the Pirates in eight days, then watched reliever Dario Veras nearly give away a five-run lead before the Padres held on at Pittsburgh.

Valenzuela (1-1) pitched five-hit ball over seven innings and left with a 6-1 lead after Joe Randa’s two-out solo homer in the seventh.

But Veras surrendered consecutive home runs by Tony Womack and Jermaine Allensworth to start the eighth, and Kevin Elster followed Kevin Young’s single with a two-run shot to make it 6-5.

Doug Bochtler replaced Veras and allowed both batters he faced to reach, but Trevor Hoffman came on to retire Randa and Keith Osik. Wally Joyner’s run-scoring force-play grounder provided an insurance run in the ninth before Hoffman finished for his third save.

Tony Gwynn made it 1-0 in the first with his third home run in 50 at-bats this season, all against the Pirates--matching his 1996 total.

Florida 2, St. Louis 1--Gary Sheffield’s leadoff home run in the third inning broke a tie and Pat Rapp and two relievers held the Cardinals to five hits at Miami.

Pat Rapp (2-0) gave up four hits over six innings before Dennis Cook pitched two scoreless innings and Robb Nen pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

Sheffield, who has reached base safely in all 13 games this season, hit his second home run of the season off Donovan Osborne (0-2).

Florida tied the score in the bottom of the inning when Devon White drew a bases loaded walk with two outs, scoring Luis Castillo. The inning began when the Marlins loaded the bases with no outs. But Osborne got Bobby Bonilla on a pop-up and Moises Alou struck out before he walked White. Jeff Conine struck out to end the inning.

Rapp, defeating the Cardinals for the first time in seven starts, made his first start since a five-hit shutout in Cincinnati on April 11.

San Francisco 6, Philadelphia 5--Glenallen Hill homered twice and drove in four runs, and the Giants scored twice without getting a hit in the 10th inning at Philadelphia.

Hill’s second homer, a two-run shot off Phillie reliever Ricky Bottalico in the top of the ninth, tied the score, and the Giants then took advantage of Reggie Harris’ wildness to score two runs in the 10th.

Harris (0-1) walked the first three batters in the 10th. Jerry Spradling relieved Harris and got Hill to ground to third, but Scott Rolen’s throw to the plate was wide, and Hill was credited with a fielder’s choice run batted in. Bill Mueller’s sacrifice fly scored the second run in the inning.

The victory was the sixth consecutive for the Giants.

The Giants threatened in the top of the ninth. With two outs Darryl Hamilton walked and attempted to go to third on Jose Vizcaino’s single, but was cut down on right fielder Rob Butler’s strong throw. Hamilton dislocated his right thumb on the play.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Kenny Lofton Atlanta 4 for 5, homer, 2 runs, stolen base Tony Gwynn San Diego matched 1996 total with 3rd homer Glenallen Hill San Francisco 2 for 5, 2 HR, 4 RBI

Team’s Player Result Kenny Lofton Win Tony Gwynn Win Glenallen Hill Win

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PITCHING

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Team’s Player Team Performance Result Roger Bailey Colorado 9 innings, 5 hits, 0 runs Win F. Valenzuela San Diego 1.50 ERA in last three starts Win D. Hermanson Montreal Homered in 1st major league at-bat Win

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