Wood Helps Keep Cubs on Course

If this was an “off” day for Kerry Wood, the Chicago Cubs will take it.

Wood took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and Sammy Sosa hit a home run Wednesday to lead the Cubs over the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-1, at Chicago.

Rondell White and Matt Stairs also homered for the Cubs, who have won 14 of 15 overall and nine in a row at Wrigley Field, their longest home winning streak since May 29-June 15, 1998.

Wood (5-4), who won his fourth consecutive start, didn’t give up a hit until Kerry Robinson singled to left leading off the sixth inning.

Wood then loaded the bases with no outs, but gave up only a run-scoring groundout to Albert Pujols.

“I knew I didn’t have overpowering stuff,” said Wood, who felt strong in the bullpen. “I was just hitting my spots inside until something got off focus.”

Wood, who has won four consecutive decisions for the first time since 1998, gave up one run and two hits in seven innings, struck out six and walked five. He threw 118 pitches.

The Cubs (35-21) are a season-best 14 games over .500 and increased their National League Central lead to four games over the second-place Cardinals.

San Francisco 6, San Diego 4--Rich Aurilia hit a two-run homer while Barry Bonds rested at San Francisco and the Giants handed the Padres their eighth consecutive loss.

Kirk Rueter (6-6) gave up seven hits and three runs while pitching into the eighth inning. He also had a sacrifice fly as the Giants beat the Padres for the eighth time in nine games.

With Bonds watching from the bench on a scheduled day off, the Padres were spared his next move up the all-time homers list. Bonds hit his 30th and 31st home runs of the season in the series’ first two games, giving him 525 in his career.

Florida 7, Pittsburgh 2--Mike Lowell homered and drove in three runs at Miami to back Ryan Dempster, who won his third consecutive start.

Lowell went four for four for the first four-hit game of his career and Dempster continued his strong outings after his early season struggles.

The Pirates, whose road record dropped to a major league-worst 8-23, were managed by bench coach Bill Virdon. Manager Lloyd McClendon returned to Merrillville, Ind., to attend his daughter’s high school graduation.

Philadelphia 6, New York 1--Amaury Telemaco pitched the first complete game of his career, shutting out the Mets until the ninth at Philadelphia.

Telemaco’s six-hitter helped the Phillies stop a three-game losing streak. Philadelphia has won four of five against the Mets this season.

Telemaco (5-1) won for the first time in five starts.

Atlanta 2, Montreal 0--John Burkett gave up two hits in 7 2/3 innings and Rico Brogna homered at Montreal to help the Braves to their season-best fifth consecutive victory.

Burkett (5-4), who struck out seven, gave up Vladimir Guerrero’s one-out single in the fourth and Geoff Blum’s double in the eighth.

Mike Remlinger and John Rocker finished the three-hitter as Atlanta won for the seventh time in eight games. Rocker got his 16th save in 18 chances.

Colorado 9, Houston 8--Ben Petrick hit two homers and drove in three runs at Denver to back Brian Bohanon and help the Rockies to their fourth consecutive victory.

The Rockies chased Scott Elarton with a five-run fifth inning that included a two-run homer by Petrick.

Bohanon (3-4), winning his second consecutive start since coming off the disabled list, departed after walking the leadoff batter in the seventh. He gave up two runs and six hits.

Cincinnati 6, Milwaukee 3--Elmer Dessens pitched seven strong innings and Ruben Rivera had four hits to lead the Reds at Milwaukee.

Dessens (5-2) won for the third time in four starts, giving up six hits.

Danny Graves relieved with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth and got his 13th save in 17 chances.