MILWAUKEE - Randall Simon had fans cheering for him in his return to Miller Park.
Cubs fans who made the trip applauded his two-run homer in Saturday night's 8-4 win over the Brewers.
All spectators in Section 112, just beyond first base, cheered when the Brewers announced they would receive free Italian sausages courtesy of the Chicago first baseman.
"Things went fine tonight," Simon said. "It's funny, but I think all the people were from Chicago. But the main thing I wanted to get across is that I didn't want to hurt anybody. I wanted people to realize what kind of person I am. I'm a kind person."
It was the first game for Simon at Miller Park since July 9, when he used his bat to hit a woman dressed as a sausage during a race.
Since traded to the Cubs, he didn't play in Friday's series opener. Saturday he was booed in his first plate appearance, then homered in the third. He ended Milwaukee's sixth with a diving catch of a line drive by Eddie Perez.
Moments later, while Simon was in the dugout, the centerfield scoreboard announced the free sausage offer, with Simon paying.
"I wanted to make sure people didn't take it the wrong way," Simon said of the July 9 events.
Simon was cited for disorderly conduct. Bond was set at $432, and Simon didn't challenge. He forfeited the money Thursday, ending the case.
A Cubs coach suggested the sausage offer to Simon.
"I think it was an awesome idea," Simon said. "I think it got me closer to the fans, and it was a nice way of saying, "Thank you and I'm sorry."'
CARDINALS 13, REDS 6: The longest losing streak of Woody Williams' career is over. St. Louis hopes its slide is, also.
Williams won for the first time since July 26 despite giving up six runs in six innings as the Cardinals overcame an early deficit.
"It's hard to see from the linescore," Williams said. "It's been a hard second half, but I still have four more starts, so we'll wait and see what happens."
Eli Marrero had a two-run triple and drove in three in his first start since tearing ankle ligaments May 11.
BRAVES 9, PIRATES 2: Greg Maddux pitched into the eighth and moved within one of becoming the first major-leaguer to win at least 15 games in 16 consecutive seasons for host Atlanta.
Gary Sheffield had three hits, including his 35th home run, and three RBIs. Chipper Jones had a three-run double, Rafael Furcal went 4-for-5 and scored twice and Vinny Castilla also went 4-for-5 with three doubles and an RBI in Atlanta's 16-hit attack.
Maddux is tied with Cy Young with 15 straight 15-win seasons. He won his 287th game, tying Bert Blyleven for 24th on the career list.
MARLINS 14, EXPOS 4: Florida beat up on Tomo Ohka for nine runs in the first two innings, and Brad Penny cruised in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Marlins scored five unearned in the first as they stayed a game back of Philadelphia in the wild-card race.
A crowd of 14,570 watched at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. The Expos fell to 11-7 in Puerto Rico, where they are playing 22 home games this season. After this three-game series, they play three against the Cubs.
GIANTS 5, D'BACKS 4 (11): Marquis Grissom drew a bases-loaded walk from Matt Mantei in the 11th to give host San Francisco its sixth victory in seven games.
Jason Schmidt seemed headed for his 10th victory since the All-Star break until Steve Finley beat out a squib in front of the plate in the seventh.
After pinch-hitter Felix Jose walked, Luis Gonzalez lined Schmidt's 115th pitch into the gap. The Giants had a chance to get pinch-runner Junior Spivey at the plate, but Eric Young's relay was terribly weak, bouncing off the mound as Spivey slid home to tie it at 4.
PHILLIES 9, METS 6: Ricky Ledee hit a tiebreaking three-run double and Marlon Byrd and Bobby Abreu homered, leading host Philadelphia to its fifth straight victory. The Phillies have won eight of nine after losing six straight.
DODGERS 10, ROCKIES 2: Shawn Green drove in five, Ron Coomer homered twice and Odalis Perez pitched six strong innings for visiting Los Angeles.
