Cubs Are Sweeping Success Against Padres

Veteran Gary Gaetti, batting only .155, hit a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning Sunday that gave the Chicago Cubs to a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres at Chicago.

The Padres lost all three games in Chicago, the first time they were swept in 74 series. Their streak of 73 series without a sweep was the fourth-longest this century, and the longest in more than 50 years. Their last sweep came Aug. 25-27, 1997, at Philadelphia.

The National League champions have lost five consecutive games, their longest slide since losing five in a row from June 14-19, 1997.

Felix Heredia blew Scott Sanders’ three-hit, no-run effort when he gave up two runs and three hits in the eighth inning.

But Gaetti was there to bail the Cubs out after Brian Boehringer intentionally walked Jose Hernandez to load the bases with one out. Rodney Myers (2-0) pitched one-third of an inning for the victory.

Atlanta 5, Cincinnati 3--Javy Lopez had two run-scoring doubles at Atlanta and the Braves knocked out former teammate Denny Neagle en route to their fifth consecutive victory.

Odalis Perez (1-1) gave up three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings for the victory. He struck out seven and walked two.

John Rocker, the Braves’ fourth pitcher, got three outs for his second save, completing a six-hitter.

Neagle (0-1), traded to Cincinnati during the off-season, lasted only 2 1/3 innings--his quickest exit since he got only one out against Pittsburgh on July 15, 1994.

Houston 3, Florida 2--Shane Reynolds become the first National League starter with five wins after earning the victory at Miami.

Carl Everett drove in two runs for the Astros, who swept the Marlins for the first time in a three-game series. Reynolds (5-1) struck out six and walked none, limiting the Marlins to eight hits--six singles--in 7 2/3 innings.

Alex Fernandez (1-2) had another setback in his comeback from shoulder surgery that sidelined him all of last season and sent him to the disabled list again last month.

In his fourth start of the season--his second since returning from the disabled list--Fernandez left in the second inning because of a pulled right groin and will go on the disabled list today.

New York 2, San Francisco 0--Dennis Cook became the National League’s first reliever to win five games as the Mets completed a sweep at New York.

John Olerud’s bases-loaded single in the eighth against Rich Rodriguez was the game-winning hit.

Milwaukee 6, Arizona 5--Pinch-hitter Marquis Grissom hit a three-run homer against reliever Gregg Olson in the eighth inning at Milwaukee to help the Brewers end a five-game home losing streak.

It was Grissom’s first home run as a pinch-hitter.

Matt Williams homered twice for the Diamondbacks, raising his total to a league-leading 10.

Pittsburgh 8, Colorado 5--Mike Benjamin hit a two-run triple in a four-run fifth inning to pace the Pirates at Pittsburgh.

Larry Walker of the Rockies hit a 462-foot home run to center field in the first, his sixth homer in 15 at-bats.