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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CHICAGO (AP) -- A former No. 1 pick, Phil Nevin has finally
realized that pure, physical talent isn't enough in the big
leagues.
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| Nevin |
Nevin hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning and a three-run
double in the ninth Monday night as the San Diego Padres beat the
Chicago Cubs 8-2. His six RBI tied a career high that he set May
19 at Atlanta.
"Getting a chance to hit every day, I become a better hitter
each day," said Nevin, the No. 1 overall pick by Houston in 1992.
"You come to the field and learn something new every day. That
makes the game fun. I'm not just going through the motions. I'm
watching guys like Tony Gwynn and Alan Trammell.
"You have to learn a lot from them," he said. "These players
have always wanted to better themselves. I just wish I had done it
when I was 15 or 16."
The Padres are happy to take it now, though. Nevin is hitting
.304 with 29 homers and 98 RBI this year. He's now reached base
safely with either a hit or a walk in 48 straight games.
The loss was Chicago's 14th in 17 games and dropped the Cubs 18
games below .500. Chicago was within six games of .500 on Aug. 2.
"We just hit a wall and haven't been able to climb over that
wall," manager Don Baylor said.
Cubs starter Ruben Quevedo (2-6) was strong for the first seven
innings, allowing only four hits, but ran into trouble in the
eighth.
With the score tied at 2, he gave up singles to Desi Relaford
and Ryan Klesko, the first two batters he faced. That brought up
Nevin, who was 0-for-2 with a walk for the night.
Nevin hit the ball over the left-field fence, putting the Padres
ahead 5-2.
"Nevin's just had a great year," Padres manager Bruce Bochy
said. "For us, it's just like when Sosa comes up."
In the ninth, the Padres loaded the bases with two outs and
Nevin doubled off the wall in right-center against Tim Worrell.
"They got guys on base and got hits at the right time," Baylor
said. "We just didn't get it done. We missed our shot. They came
back and took advantage of their shot."
Matt Clement (12-12) wasn't exactly sharp, walking six and
throwing a wild pitch that set up a Cubs run. But he allowed only
two runs and three hits in 7 1/3 innings.
He got some help from a Cubs offense that's been sputtering all
month. After Sammy Sosa's RBI double in the third, the Cubs didn't
get another hit the rest of the game. They stranded nine runners.
"We hit a period where we were hitting well together. Now we're
in a period where we can't come up with a clutch hit, the big
inning," said Eric Young, who got one of Chicago's three hits.
"It's tough. We had a little run there and when you have runs
like that, you want them to last."
Clement's biggest trouble came in a wild sixth inning. He walked
Gary Matthews Jr. and Sammy Sosa, dusting Sosa with ball four. The
Cubs then loaded the bases on a blunder by Padres catcher George
Williams.
Mark Grace hit a chopper to Relaford, who threw home to cut off
Matthews. Matthews started hustling back to third and Williams held
on to the ball a little too long, allowing Matthews to slide and
beat the throw by inches.
Roosevelt Brown struck out, but Ricky Gutierrez drove in
Matthews with a grounder to tie it at 2.
"I had a tough time getting a feel early," Clement said.
"I've got to be just wild enough to be effective. I can't worry
too much about walks. I'm not trying to walk people. Usually you
can't get away with that many, but at least I spread them out."
Quevedo did not allow a hit until the fifth when Williams --
making his first start and playing in only his fourth game since
1997 -- singled to right field on the first pitch he saw from
Quevedo. It was his first hit in three years.
Damian Jackson fouled a pitch off his left toe, collapsing as he
turned to run. A trainer ran out to check on him, but he got up
after a few minutes and stepped back into the batter's box.
Jackson sent the next pitch he saw into center field for an RBI
single.
After Relaford singled, Klesko hit an RBI single to right field
to give the Padres a 2-1 lead.
Game notes
Feeling dizzy, Cubs 1B Mark Grace left the game after the
seventh inning. "I had a little dizzy spell," Grace said after
the game. "I'm fine." ... The Padres have won seven of their last
nine games. ... Former Cubs pitcher Rick Sutcliffe, now a
broadcaster in San Diego, was the guest conductor for the
seventh-inning stretch. ... Cubs 3B Shane Andrews celebrated his
29th birthday Monday.
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Baseball Scoreboard
San Diego Clubhouse
Chicago Cubs Clubhouse
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Tampa Bay 5
Boston 2
Cleveland 5
Texas 2
Toronto 4
Anaheim 2
Oakland 3
Chi. White Sox 0
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Arizona 5
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NY Mets 4
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Chicago Cubs 2
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