Cubs Hurl Way to Doubleheader Sweep

The Chicago Cubs’ pitchers have a little bit of swagger when they come to the park these days.

It’s no longer Kerry Wood and four mopes. Send out any one of the starters and he’ll take the mound certain he’s going to win. And when he’s done, the next in line is going to want to do him one better.

That’s how it was Wednesday. A few hours after Kevin Tapani became the National League’s first three-game winner, Jason Bere joined him as the Cubs swept a doubleheader at Chicago. Chicago beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-3, in the opener and 5-3 in the nightcap.

“All five of us have taken the ball and done our job,” Bere said. “We’re showing up now at the park knowing we have a chance to win each and every day. That’s what you need to be there at the end.”

The doubleheader sweep was the Cubs’ first since July 19, 1997, when they beat the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field. Chicago’s 10-5 record is its best after 15 games since 1995.

“We set a goal in spring training to get off to a good start,” Cub Manager Don Baylor said. “We’re not dealing with the negatives, just dealing with the positives. And I think we’re seeing some of the results.”

Like any good team, it starts with the pitching staff. Bere held the Phillies scoreless for eight innings before giving up two walks to the start the ninth.

He was replaced by Mike Fyrhie, and Rob Ducey hit an RBI single. Jeff Fassero relieved and gave up a two-run double to Mike Lieberthal before getting the last out for his second save of the day and eighth of the year.

“Unless my arm’s dragging on the ground, I’ll take the ball,” said the 38-year-old Fassero, who had 10 saves before this season.

Colorado 8, San Diego 0--Mike Hampton pitched eight shutout innings at San Diego.

Hampton (2-0) gave up four hits before being replaced by Kane Davis in the ninth. He struck out six and walked four as Colorado won its fourth in a row.

Hampton gave up a leadoff single to Damian Jackson in the first inning, then retired the next 13 batters in a row before giving up Wiki Gonzalez’s one-out double in the fifth.

The Rockies scored five runs in the third inning against Adam Eaton (2-1). Jeff Cirillo hit a two-run homer, Todd Hollandsworth had a two-run double and Brett Mayne added a sacrifice fly.

Tony Gwynn’s single in the sixth inning for San Diego was the 2,366th of his career, tying him with Paul Molitor for eighth place on the all-time list.

Pittsburgh 8, Houston 4--John Vander Wal went four for four with a home run and two RBIs at Pittsburgh.

Houston’s Shane Reynolds (0-1) was making his first start since July 29. His 2000 season ended early because of degenerative disks in his lower back and he was late to spring training because of surgery to repair his left knee, which he injured while jogging in December.

Reynolds gave up seven runs--four earned--and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out five.

Vander Wal’s second career four-hit game helped the Pirates win consecutive games for the second time this season.

He hit a solo homer in the first, doubled and scored in the fourth and had an RBI single in the sixth.

St. Louis 3, Arizona 1--Bobby Bonilla, taking over at first base for the injured Mark McGwire, homered and had an RBI double as the Cardinals beat Randy Johnson at St. Louis.

Johnson (2-2) gave up three runs and five hits in eight innings. He struck out 11 and walked three.

Both of Johnson’s losses have come against the Cardinals. He fell to 4-6 for his career against St. Louis, 1-4 at Busch Stadium.

Milwaukee 7, Cincinnati 4--Jose Hernandez fouled off six two-strike pitches before hitting a three-run homer at Cincinnati for the Brewers’ first road victory of the season.

The Brewers lost their first five games away from Miller Park and were the last team in the majors to win on the road.

Jamey Wright (2-2) kept the Reds at bay for 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander gave up seven hits and two runs--Barry Larkin had an RBI groundout in the third and a run-scoring double in the seventh.

Atlanta 1, Florida 0--Tom Glavine gave up three hits in seven innings and the Braves made a first-inning run stand up at Atlanta.

Atlanta has been in a season-long hitting slump, hitting only .221 as a team and scoring more than four runs only twice in 16 games.

The Braves went through a typical struggle in the series finale against Florida, going one for 10 with runners in scoring position. Still, they won their second consecutive series and got back to the .500 mark.

Mike Remlinger pitched the eighth before John Rocker picked up his fifth save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Montreal 7, New York 1--Expo pitcher Javier Vazquez had as many hits as the Mets at New York.

Vazquez suffered a sprained right ankle running the bases in front of Jose Vidro’s three-run homer and had to leave the game after limiting the Mets to two singles over six innings. Three Expos relievers completed the two-hitter.

The ankle gave Vazquez (2-1) more trouble than the docile Mets. He beat New York for the second time this season, striking out five and walking one.

The loss went to Steve Trachsel, whose ERA ballooned to 12.21. He has given up 20 runs and 22 hits in 14 innings.