Alou Homers Twice, Kimm Gets First Win

Bruce Kimm didn’t get showered with beer, and no one smeared shaving cream on his face.

The Chicago Cubs’ interim manager celebrated his first major league victory simply, enjoying a plateful of food and a bottle of water in his clubhouse office.

Carlos Zambrano gave up two hits over five innings and Moises Alou hit two homers to help the Cubs beat the Braves, 7-3, at Atlanta on Saturday night in Kimm’s first game since Don Baylor was fired.

“I’m feeling good,” Kimm said. “This is a special win because it’s my first win as a major league manager, but what really makes it special is we did it against a Hall of Famer like [Tom] Glavine.”

Sammy Sosa sat out his second consecutive game because of a family emergency, and he’s not expected back for today’s series finale.

Kimm, a former major league catcher, spent six seasons managing in the minors before replacing Baylor. In his first game, Kimm put second baseman Mark Bellhorn in the leadoff spot and the move paid off immediately. Bellhorn walked in the first to start a three-run rally and later hit a solo home run.

Corey Patterson, who normally bats first, originally was dropped to No. 6 in the order but was scratched because of a sore foot, and Roosevelt Brown started in his place.

Baylor was dismissed Friday, and bench coach Rene Lachemann ran the team in Friday night’s 4-3 loss.

The Cubs won for only the third time in 12 games and ended Atlanta’s three-game winning streak. Alou finished four for four, the 18th four-hit game of his career. He also had four hits June 29 against the Chicago White Sox.

“This was better, because we won the game,” Alou said. “We needed to win a couple before the break.”

Florida 5, New York 2--Michael Tejera (5-1) gave up five hits and two runs in a career-high 7 1/3 innings at Miami to win his fourth consecutive start.

He left to a standing ovation after giving up a two-run home run to Roberto Alomar in the eighth inning.

Cincinnati 6, Milwaukee 4--Jason LaRue drove in four runs with a bases-loaded double and a run-scoring single for the Reds at Cincinnati. Jimmy Haynes (10-6) gave up 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings. He left after a two-run homer by Richie Sexson, his 19th, cut the Reds’ lead to 6-4.

Montreal 5, Philadelphia 3--Brad Wilkerson homered for the third consecutive game and Fernando Tatis and Andres Galarraga also hit home runs for the Expos at Philadelphia. The Expos, winners of three consecutive, have outhomered their opponents, 20-9, during a 12-game trip.

Colorado 3, San Diego 2--Todd Zeile got his 1,000th run batted in and John Thomson won for the first time in eight starts to lift the Rockies at Denver. Zeile, who went three for four with two singles and a double, snapped a 2-2 tie with a two-out single in the third inning. Larry Walker went two for four and raised his league-leading batting average to .351.

Houston 10, Pittsburgh 2--Daryle Ward hit the first homer to land in the river beyond PNC Park’s right-field wall on the fly, a grand slam that was among three Astro homers at Pittsburgh. Lance Berkman took over the major league lead with his 29th homer, and Jeff Bagwell also homered.