Here’s to You, Harry: Cubs Win! Cubs Win!

Steve Trachsel was as effective with his bat as he was with his pitches Friday. But what he’ll never forget about the Chicago Cubs’ home opener is how fervently the fans honored the late broadcaster Harry Caray.

“We were definitely motivated and when they started calling Harry’s name there in the seventh inning, I kinda lost it for a batter or two,” Trachsel said after the Cubs beat the Montreal Expos, 6-2.

“I finally was able to get that last out. It was a very emotional moment and something I’ll always remember.”

With the wind blowing in at 18 mph on a cold day with a game-time temperature of 41 degrees, it was a typical early-season baseball game for the Cubs.

The one thing missing was Caray, the legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster, who was more popular than many of the players he described--and often criticized--on TV and radio. Caray died in February.

In the top of the seventh with two outs, the sellout crowd of 39,102 rose to its feet and began chanting “Harry, Harry.” Montreal’s next two batters reached on an error and walk before Trachsel got out of the inning.

Minutes later, Caray’s widow, Dutchie, led an emotional seventh-inning stretch rendition of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame,” just as her husband had done for so many years.

As hundreds of white and blue balloons were released into the air and “Amazing Grace” played over the loudspeakers, Chip Caray, now in the booth once occupied by his grandfather, embraced Dutchie as the fans stood and cheered for several minutes.

Dutchie said she was just a temporary fill-in for her popular husband.

“I don’t know if the fans will ever forget him, if anybody will ever take his place,” Dutchie said.

Houston 15, Colorado 2--Derek Bell tied a career high with six RBIs at Houston as the Astros handed Colorado its first loss this season.

Bell, Craig Biggio, Sean Berry and Ricky Gutierrez each had three hits for the Astros, who had 18 hits. Houston got only 20 hits in a three-game series against San Francisco to open the season.

Jose Lima (1-0) pitched seven strong innings for his first victory as a starter since Sept. 27, 1995. The right-hander gave up four hits, struck out four and walked one in seven-plus innings.

San Diego 13, St. Louis 5--The Padres put this one out of even Mark McGwire’s considerable reach.

Greg Myers had three hits and matched his career high with five RBIs and Mark Langston won his first NL start since 1989 at St. Louis.

McGwire had hit home runs against the Dodgers to help the Cardinals win their first two games this season.

Friday, he hit another one, a two-run shot off Langston, but it only cut St. Louis’ deficit to four runs.

McGwire homered over the left-field wall in the fifth, one batter after Brian Jordan hit an RBI triple. McGwire also walked, struck out twice and is five for 12 with three home runs and nine RBIs this season.

The first four innings were played without three regular umpires, who were stranded for several hours by weather-related problems in Atlanta. Eric Gregg, who took an earlier flight, was the only umpire who made it in time and was behind the plate for the second successive game.

Until crew chief Bruce Froemming, Larry Vanover and Mark Hirschbeck arrived in the fifth inning, the Cardinals made do with three college-level umpires from the St. Louis area.

New York 2, Pittsburgh 1--Shortstop Kevin Polcovich made a two-out throwing error that gave the Mets the victory at New York.

The Mets, who have played three one-run games to start the season, got a runner to third in the ninth when Carlos Baerga reached on a fielder’s choice, went to second on a walk and took third on a two-out wild pitch by Marc Wilkins.

Rey Ordonez then hit a routine grounder at Polcovich, whose throw to first was up the line and pulled Kevin Young off the bag. Young tried to tag Ordonez, who ducked under his glove as he crossed the base.

Milwaukee 7, Florida 1--Jose Valentin hit three homers and drove in five runs to lead the Brewers past Florida at Miami.

Valentin hit solo homers in the second and seventh innings for a 2-1 lead, then added a three-run homer in the eighth.

The home runs were the first this season for Valentin, who had 17 last year.

The three-homer performance was the first at Pro Player Stadium. The last Milwaukee player to accomplish the feat was Dale Sveum against the Angels on July 17, 1987.

Atlanta 5, Philadelphia 1--Denny Neagle, the National League’s only 20-game winner last season, pitched seven strong innings at Atlanta in his first 1998 start.

Neagle gave up four hits, walked two and struck out three in a game that was delayed two hours at the start because of thunderstorms.

Kerry Ligtenberg finished for the Braves, giving up one hit over the last two innings.