By Compiled from Times wires
Published June 2, 2003
CHICAGO - One day after they couldn't score for 16 innings, the Houston Astros broke through against Kerry Wood.
"Yesterday was a big game to lose and coming in today they got Kerry going, but it just turns out that's how baseball is," Houston's Lance Berkman said after hitting a homer and driving in three runs as the Astros beat the Cubs 9-3 Sunday.
"We hit today about as well as we have hit all year," Berkman said. "When Kerry Wood makes a mistake, you've got to hit it."
Wood, who struck out 20 Astros in his fifth major-league start in 1998, is not pitching poorly, but he's not winning, either.
Wood (4-4) failed for a sixth straight start to get his fifth win this season and the 50th of his career. He hasn't won since April 29 and has dropped his last three decisions. He gave up six hits, five runs and three walks while striking out 11 in six innings.
"It's definitely frustrating. It's probably the first time all season I had three pitches I was throwing for strikes," Wood said. "I feel good and I feel strong and I feel like I'm throwing it well. Things are just not going my way."
Coming off a 1-0 loss in 16 innings Saturday, the Astros broke a 23-inning scoreless drought with four runs in the fourth, all with two outs.
PHILLIES 4-4, EXPOS 3-1: Tomas Perez hit a two-run double to help back a strong outing by Brett Myers as host Philadelphia completed a doubleheader sweep.
Jose Mesa saved both games for the Phillies, who won the opener behind six strong innings from Randy Wolf and Ricky Ledee's two-run double. They swept the three-game series and have won four of five overall.
The Expos had only eight hits in the two games and have lost six of seven. They tied a season low with three hits in the opener.
GIANTS 4, ROCKIES 0: Barry Bonds hit a two-run double, and Kirk Rueter pitched into the eighth as host San Francisco won its fifth straight.
The Rockies hadn't been shut out in 82 games - the longest active streak in the majors. Colorado fell one game short of the franchise record for consecutive games without a shutout loss.
Five days after his worst start of the season against the Rockies in Denver, Rueter didn't allow a runner to reach third.
CARDINALS 5, PIRATES 4: Edgar Renteria hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the seventh as host St. Louis snapped a three-game losing streak.
J.D. Drew homered for the second straight game for the Cardinals, who avoided a three-game sweep. St. Louis is 3-4 during a 13-game homestand, the longest of the season, but avoided dropping below .500 on June 1 for the first time since 1997.
Jack Wilson hit a three-run homer for the Pirates. Wilson also robbed Eduardo Perez of the go-ahead RBI in the sixth, making a leaping grab of his liner to shortstop and turning it into an inning-ending double play.
METS 10, BRAVES 4: Jeromy Burnitz capped an eight-run sixth with a three-run homer as host New York rallied and took two of three games from the East leaders. Burnitz also doubled to start the inning. Horacio Ramirez, unbeaten in seven starts since losing to Florida on April 11, took a 4-2 lead into the sixth but left after consecutive doubles by Burnitz and Jason Phillips.
BREWERS 4, DODGERS 3: Richie Sexson hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh and Wes Helms also homered for Milwaukee. Sexson also had a sacrifice fly, helping the Brewers take two of three to win consecutive road series for the second time this year.
DIAMONDBACKS 10, PADRES 4: Luis Gonzalez homered and drove in four runs for the second straight game, and Edgar Gonzalez won his major-league debut for visiting Arizona. Edgar Gonzalez, 20, the youngest player in the majors who was called up from Triple A earlier Sunday, allowed three runs on 10 hits. Shea Hillenbrand went 0-for-3 with two walks in his debut with Arizona.
REDS 9, MARLINS 6: Sean Casey homered, doubled and drove in three runs for visiting Cincinnati. Casey, who went 3-for-3, and the Reds had struggled before getting 13 hits off five pitchers.
