Sosa Completes Demolition

However Sammy Sosa decided to leave Denver--on the team charter or, more likely, a private jet--the Colorado Rockies were glad to see him go.

Sosa hit a grand slam and drove in five runs Sunday, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Rockies, 12-9.

With nine runs batted in Saturday, when he hit three three-run homers in a 15-1 victory, Sosa set a National League record for RBIs in consecutive games with 14.

“A lot of Sammy over the weekend,” Colorado Manager Clint Hurdle said, shaking his head.

Sosa went eight for 12 in the three-game series.

“You have to be happy about having a series like this one,” Sosa said. “I haven’t had a series like this in a long time.

“I got good pitches to hit. I’m glad the Rockies pitched to me. Right now, I’m feeling comfortable at the plate and I’m not swinging at so many bad pitches as I used to.”

Sosa, who feels the Cubs’ charter plane is unsafe, chartered a private plane for the trip from San Francisco to Denver on Thursday night. He wouldn’t confirm if he planned to do the same thing for the trip to Chicago on Sunday night.

“Get away with those bad questions,” Sosa said.

Corey Patterson hit two homers and drove in three runs for the Cubs, and Fred McGriff had a two-run homer and three RBIs.

Sosa’s grand slam, the seventh of his career, increased his major league-leading home run total to 39. The slam, a 435-foot drive to center field in the seventh, gave the Cubs an 11-3 lead.

“Anything is possible with him,” Cub Manager Bruce Kimm said. “He’s one of the most prolific home-run hitters of all time.

“Any time he goes to the plate, fans don’t dare go to the concession stand or the restroom. We’re fortunate to have him.”

The Cubs, who had six homers Saturday, belted five Sunday. Four came against starter Denny Stark (7-3), the most given up by a Colorado pitcher this season.

Stark, unbeaten in his previous six starts at Coors Field, gave up seven hits and seven runs in six innings.

Steve Smyth (1-0), making his second major league start, gave up four hits and three runs in six innings.

The Rockies scored four times against Antonio Alfonseca in the ninth, highlighted by Todd Zeile’s two-run double.

“It almost got away from us,” Kimm said. “This place is known for making leads shrink quick.”

Patterson put the Cubs ahead, 1-0, with a two-out homer in the second, his 10th.

The Rockies scored three runs in their half, highlighted by Gabe Kapler’s two-run triple. Todd Helton led off the inning with a double and went to third on Zeile’s single. Kapler tripled to left-center and scored on Juan Uribe’s sacrifice fly.

McGriff’s two-run homer in the fourth tied the score. Bill Mueller led off with a walk, and McGriff hit a 437-foot drive to center, his 26th.

Patterson’s second homer keyed a three-run sixth, giving Chicago a 7-3 lead. Mueller doubled and scored on Sosa’s double to left-center. With two out, Patterson homered to right.

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*--* On a Roll Sammy Sosa set a National League record for RBIs in consecutive games Sunday. A look at the major-league leaders: RBIs Player Team Dates 15 Tony Lazzeri Yankees May 23-24, 1936 14 Sammy Sosa Cubs Aug. 10-11, 2002 13 Nate Colbert Padres Aug. 1, 1972; doubleheader 13 Mark Whiten Cardinals Sept. 7, 1993; doubleheader

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