For Cubs, first time for everything

CHICAGO - Forget the curses and jinxes and all talk of bad luck. At least for one day.

The Cubs simply gave the Red Sox a rude welcome on their first-ever trip to Wrigley Field in the storied teams' first meeting since the 1918 World Series.

Pounding the ball over the walls and against the ivy in their own historic park, Chicago had 20 hits and routed the World Series champion Red Sox 14-6 on Friday.

Jeromy Burnitz hit two of the Cubs' four homers, a long-ball display that also included one by 39-year-old Greg Maddux, who connected off reliever John Halama in the sixth for his first home run since 1999.

Maddux (5-3) got career win No. 310, allowing seven hits and three runs in 62/3 innings, including David Ortiz's sixth-inning homer. Maddux also improved his career record against Boston to 5-0.

Burnitz added a two-run homer in the sixth to make it 11-2.

Burnitz hit a solo homer, and Todd Hollandsworth had a two-run shot in the second. And the Cubs added four more runs in the third off Bronson Arroyo (4-3), using five hits, including Michael Barrett's two-run double off Johnny Damon's glove in center. Jason Varitek's throwing error allowed another run to score and Aramis Ramirez had an RBI single.

Chicago scored three more in the seventh, with Hollandsworth and Barrett hitting RBI doubles.

Boston scored three runs in ninth on Mark Bellhorn's leadoff homer and Ortiz's two-run shot - his 16th of the season.

The teams, known more for their curses than their postseason success until the Red Sox broke through and won the World Series last season, were meeting in the regular season for the first time.

[Last modified June 11, 2005, 00:26:12]