| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
CHICAGO (AP) It was a bittersweet celebration for Mark Grace.
| |  | |
| Grace |
Grace got his 1,000th career RBI Saturday, but Placido Polanco
drove in four runs to match his career high and lead the St. Louis
Cardinals over the Chicago Cubs 6-5.
Grace hit an RBI single with two outs in the seventh, becoming
the seventh Cubs player to reach 1,000 RBI. The first baseman, who
is eligible for free agency after the season, received a standing
ovation from the crowd of 38,168.
The Cubs have given no indication they plan on re-signing Grace,
and this could be his last homestand with the only big league team
he's ever played for.
"I'm from a bygone era. There aren't many of us around anymore," said Grace, who has spent 13 seasons in a Cubs uniform. "Guys I've played with or against, most of them are coaches or managers. Now I'm playing with Gary Matthews' kid."
Grace's agent, Barry Axelrod, has talked with Cubs general
manager Andy MacPhail about a new contract, but all Grace has heard
about is how talented minor league first baseman Hee Seop Choi is.
"The ball is in their court," said Grace, who is making $5.3
million this year. "This is my team, my town and my organization.
I'm proud of this organization. I know if the Cubs decide to go in
a different way, I know I can be a first baseman somewhere else."
Despite making five errors -- three by shortstop Edgar Renteria -- the Cardinals won for the ninth time in 12 games. St. Louis had lost two straight since clinching the NL Central title.
"You've got to remember, they're still celebrating," Cubs
manager Don Baylor said. "They gave us opportunities. We were one
base hit away."
Polanco hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the second and added
an RBI single in the sixth against Joey Nation (0-1), who made his
major debut.
Nation, who turns 22 on Thursday, gave up five runs, six hits
and six walks in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six as the Cubs lost
for the ninth time in 10 games.
"There were positives," said Nation, who had 13 family and
friends at Wrigley Field. "I was able to throw my offspeed pitches
for strikes. My fastball wasn't there today."
Nation is the 13th starting pitcher of the season for the Cubs,
who have the worst record in the majors at 61-93.
Britt Reames (2-1), only the sixth starting pitcher utilized by
the Cardinals, gave up two runs -- both unearned -- and two hits in
five innings. Matt Morris got five outs for his fourth save in seven chances.
Reames also got two hits -- his first in the majors.
"Two is my lucky number today," said the right-hander, a
longshot to make the Cardinals' postseason roster.
Baylor and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa each used 15 position
players, and the Cubs switched so many people that seven players
were in the No. 4 spot.
"This was not a fun ballgame -- for either team," La Russa
said. "You don't play ball on days like today, you work it. It was
`workball.' Boy, was it hard work."
Mark McGwire pinch hit in the eighth with the Cardinals ahead
5-3 and runners at first and second. After Will Ohman's wild pitch,
McGwire was intentionally walked, then replaced by a pinch runner.
The Cubs loaded the bases in the first on a fielding error by
Renteria and two walks, and scored a run on a passed ball by Carlos
Hernandez. Shane Andrews' sacrifice fly made it 2-0.
Renteria doubled leading off the second and scored on
Hernandez's single. One out later, Reames hit a bunt single for his
first major league hit, and Polanco homered for a 4-2 lead.
"I got lucky and hit it where the wind was blowing," Polanco
said. "Nobody knew anything about Nation, but I kind of had an
idea after the first time around."
"He's played incredible baseball," La Russa said of Polanco.
"He starts, he gets hits, he comes off the bench and gets hits.
Nobody's been better on our team."
Polanco added an RBI single in the sixth, but Grace's single in
the seventh cut it to 5-3. Craig Paquette hit an RBI grounder in
the eighth.
With Andrews at first and one out in the bottom half, Damon
Buford reached on a fielding error by Renteria, who then threw the
ball away for another error, allowing Andrews to reach third.
Gary Matthews Jr. singled to score Andrews, Matthews stole
second and Buford scored on a throwing error by Hernandez.
Game notes
Polanco also had four RBI on April 23 against Colorado.
... The Cardinals avoided losing three straight for the first time
since July 28-30. ... Nation was 11-10 in 27 regular season starts
for Double-A West Tenn and went 2-0 in the Southern League
playoffs. He single in the second for his first major league hit.
... Cubs RF Sammy Sosa missed his fourth straight game because of muscle strain in his lower back. ... Cardinals great Stan Musial led the crowd in the seventh-inning stretch.
| |
ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
St. Louis Clubhouse
Chicago Cubs Clubhouse
RECAPS
NY Yankees 13
Detroit 8
Oakland 8
Seattle 2
Toronto 7
Tampa Bay 6
Boston 8
Baltimore 7
Chi. White Sox 5
Minnesota 3
Cleveland 11
Kansas City 1
Anaheim 15
Texas 4
Cincinnati 6
Houston 4
St. Louis 6
Chicago Cubs 5
Florida 3
Colorado 1
Arizona 7
San Francisco 5
San Francisco 9
Arizona 5
(2nd game)
Pittsburgh 4
Milwaukee 2
Milwaukee 5
Pittsburgh 4
(2nd game)
Atlanta 10
Montreal 0
NY Mets 7
Philadelphia 3
Los Angeles 2
San Diego 1
|
