Sosa Goes the Distance, Helps Cubs Beat Giants

Sammy Sosa hit another home run in July, this one a three-run shot, to help the Chicago Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants, 9-4, Thursday at Wrigley Field.

Sosa’s 23rd homer of the season capped a four-run sixth inning. The Cubs won two of three games from the Giants, who had won 10 of 11.

Sosa hit 13 homers in July, the most in the major leagues, and had 29 runs batted in. He also had a run-scoring double Thursday.

Sosa, who has 522 homers, moved into 12th place on the all-time list ahead of Ted Williams and Willie McCovey

The Cubs scored four runs in the first inning against Jim Brower (7-3). Scheduled starter Kirk Rueter was scratched before the game because of stiffness in his left shoulder.

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Montreal 3, St. Louis 2 -- Vladimir Guerrero homered and drove in all three runs at Montreal. He moved into second place on the Expos’ career home run list. Guerrero tied Gary Carter on Monday, then hit his 221st in the second inning Thursday off Woody Williams (14-4). Guerrero needs four more homers to catch Andre Dawson.

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San Diego 10, Pittsburgh 7 -- Mark Loretta had four hits, including three doubles, and drove in three runs as the Padres overcame three Pirate homers at Pittsburgh. The Padres completed a winning July (14-12), their first above-.500 month since April 2002.

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Atlanta 7, Houston 4 -- Javy Lopez hit his 30th homer, a three-run shot that capped a six-run first inning at Atlanta, to help Shane Reynolds (9-5) beat his former club. Reynolds, a 10-year veteran, had spent his entire career with Houston until he was cut at the end of spring training. John Smoltz worked a scoreless ninth for his 40th save in 43 chances.

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Cincinnati 5, Colorado 4 -- Jason LaRue led off the bottom of the 10th inning by hitting a 2-1 pitch from Brian Fuentes (2-1) into the left-field stands. The Reds lead the majors with 25 wins in their last at-bat.

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Milwaukee 4, New York 3 -- Matt Kinney (7-8), who was 0-2 with a 9.11 earned-run average in his previous five starts, pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning at New York.