Wood Looks Strong, but Not Rocker

Kerry Wood took another step forward in his comeback. For John Rocker, it was a giant step backward.

Wood gave up only four hits in seven innings and Chicago added five runs in the ninth inning off a wild Rocker as the Cubs defeated the Atlanta Braves, 8-1, Wednesday night at Atlanta.

Rocker sprinted in from the bullpen to the cheers of the crowd of 44,698 in the ninth but left to jeers after giving up five runs, four walks and a hit batter, his ERA swelling to 5.85.

“He didn’t throw well at all. The game got out of hand,” Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox said. “It all boils down to getting the ball over the plate.”

Rocker politely declined comment when asked to discuss his outing.

Pitching five days after his 23rd birthday, Wood (3-4) didn’t allow a runner past first in the opening six innings.

He took a shutout into the seventh before Andres Galarraga reached on Wood’s only walk and scored on Brian Jordan’s double.

Wood, the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year, struck out six, throwing 105 pitches.

Arizona 11, San Diego 8--Travis Lee was three for four with three RBIs as the Diamondbacks’ slumbering offense awoke at Phoenix.

Arizona has a day off before beginning a weekend series against the Colorado Rockies, who trail the Diamondbacks by a half-game in the NL West.

With two of their best hitters, Jay Bell and Matt Williams, sitting out the game, the Diamondbacks pounded 14 hits against five San Diego pitchers. The Padres also walked nine, including leadoff batters in five consecutive innings. The 11 runs were the most for Arizona since May 9. San Diego also committed four errors.

San Francisco 4, St. Louis 1--Kirk Rueter outdueled Garrett Stephenson, and Doug Mirabelli’s home run broke an eighth-inning tie at St. Louis.

It was another quiet night for Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire, the home run hitters in the majors with 26 and 25. Bonds was one for three and hit by a pitch. McGwire singled, walked twice and popped out.

Philadelphia 10, New York 5--Pat Burrell hit his first career grand slam, his second key ninth-inning homer off Armando Benitez in as many nights, to lead the Phillies at New York.

Burrell also homered in the sixth for the rookie’s first career multihomer game.

Pittsburgh 8, Montreal 3--John Vander Wal homered twice, including a grand slam in Pittsburgh’s season-high seven-run third inning at Montreal.

Francisco Cordova (5-5) gave up seven hits and two runs in six innings as the Pirates won their second in a row.

Florida 5, Milwaukee 4--Mark Kotsay hit a grand slam to help the Marlins rally at Miami.

Braden Looper (2-1) got two out in the seventh for the win, and Antonio Alfonseca pitched out of a jam in the ninth for his 21st save in 24 opportunities.

Colorado 6, Cincinnati 4--Neifi Perez and Darren Bragg singled home runs and Ken Griffey Jr.’s throwing error let in another as the Rockies rallied in the eighth inning at Cincinnati.

The Reds have lost 12 of 14, failing to win consecutive games since June 3-4. The tailspin has dropped them a distant second in the NL Central.