Cubs Continue Hot Streak Behind Clement, Choi

Don’t tell the Chicago Cubs it’s too early in the season to get excited.

Hee Seop Choi’s two-run double helped Chicago open a four-run lead before Kris Benson retired a batter, and Matt Clement limited Pittsburgh to two hits over seven innings in the Cubs’ 7-2 victory Friday night at Pittsburgh.

The Cubs failed to score in double digits, as they did in their previous three games, but still won their fourth in a row to maintain their National League Central Division lead. They can match the club record of 16 April victories set in 1969 by splitting their final 10 games this month.

Clement said the difference in this Cub team and the one that lost 95 games last season couldn’t be more apparent.

“It’s great to just keep winning,” he said. “This has been a lot of fun these first three weeks. You look around this clubhouse and see the talent we have, and have to think this could be a pretty exciting season.”

There was a much different look in the Pirates’ clubhouse after their fifth loss in six games. Not only did they hold a meeting before the game, they held a lengthy one afterward.

Given a 4-0 lead before taking the mound, Clement (2-1) made his third straight strong start by striking out 10 and walking three -- the eighth time in his career he has struck out 10 or more.

The Pirates are 2-5 since top run producer Brian Giles was lost for up to four weeks because of a knee injury.

St. Louis 6, Arizona 3 -- Woody Williams pitched seven shutout innings to extend his scoreless streak this season to 19 2/3 innings and help the Cardinals win at St. Louis for their fifth victory in six games.

Edgar Renteria homered and doubled and Tino Martinez had two hits, a walk and an RBI for St. Louis in the first meeting against Arizona since the Cardinals swept the Diamondbacks in the first round of the playoffs.

Williams (3-0) didn’t allow a baserunner until he hit David Delluci to start the fifth and didn’t allow a hit until Lyle Overbay’s broken-bat single to the opposite field with one out in the fifth.

New York 6, Florida 3 -- Tony Clark’s first career pinch-hit homer, a three-run shot in the eighth, helped the Mets win at New York. Mo Vaughn and Mike Piazza also knocked in runs for the Mets, who have won three of four following a six-game losing streak. Ty Wigginton hit a two-out RBI single in the seventh to tie it, 3-3.

Armando Benitez pitched the ninth for his fifth save in eight chances, getting Luis Castillo to ground into a double play.

Atlanta 5, Philadelphia 4 -- Vinny Castilla’s two-run double capped a four-run sixth inning at Atlanta for the Braves, who climbed above .500 (9-8) for the first time this season and within a half-game of first-place Montreal in the NL East.

Atlanta’s Greg Maddux left trailing, 4-1. The four-time Cy Young winner gave up eight hits and three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings, though he still managed to lower his ERA from 8.27 to 7.52.

Colorado 12, San Diego 1 -- Aaron Cook came within one out of the 13th complete-game shutout in Coors Field history and had three hits of his own as the Rockies won at Denver. Cook gave up five hits and allowed only one runner past first base until the ninth inning.

Houston 11, Milwaukee 5 -- Morgan Ensberg homered and capped a six-run fourth inning with a two-run single as the Astros won at Milwaukee. Roy Oswalt (2-1) struggled for the second consecutive start but notched his first victory since opening day.

Craig Biggio hit his 200th career homer in the eighth inning for Houston, which had a season-high 17 hits.

Cincinnati vs. Montreal, ppd. -- The opener of a three-game series between the Reds and Expos was postponed by rain at San Juan, Puerto Rico. The teams will play a doubleheader today.