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Cubs celebrate Woods' return with close win

Todd Hollandsworth, 28, is congratulated by teammates after his ninth-inning single drove in the winning run for the Cubs in a 3-2 win over the Brewers.

Associated Press
Published June 30, 2005

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CHICAGO - The Cubs won in Kerry Wood's return, with Todd Hollandsworth hitting a run-scoring single in the ninth inning for a 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday that extended Chicago's winning streak to four.

Wood, throwing at up to 97 mph, had not pitched since April 30 because of a strained right shoulder. Following three rehabilitation starts in the minor leagues, he faced off against Milwaukee ace Ben Sheets and allowed one run and two hits in six innings, striking out nine and walking two. He left after 91 pitches with a 2-1 lead.

Hollandsworth's second-inning single put Chicago ahead, but Bill Hall homered in the fourth off Wood, ending a 28-inning scoreless streak by Cubs pitchers.

Burnitz then homered to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead in the bottom half.

ASTROS 7, ROCKIES 1: Craig Biggio homered and set the modern record for being hit by pitches, and Roy Oswalt pitched seven scoreless innings for his fourth straight win to lift visiting Houston over Colorado.

Biggio was hit in the fourth inning, breaking Don Baylor's post-1900 record of 267 times hit by pitches.

Houston had 12 hits for its seventh win in nine games. Morgan Ensberg hit his 20th homer, Jason Lane added 13th and Lance Berkman had three hits to extend his hitting streak to nine games.

DODGERS 4, PADRES 2: Jeff Weaver pitched into the eighth inning, Antonio Perez hit a tie-breaking three-run homer in the fifth, and host Los Angeles won for just the fourth time in 16 games.

The Dodgers loaded the bases in the third on two-out singles by Perez, J.D. Drew and Jeff Kent before Darrell May retired Olmedo Saenz.

PHILLIES 6, METS 3: Chase Utley hit a three-run homer and visiting Philadelphia snapped its five-game losing streak by capitalizing on Kazuhisa Ishii's wildness.

Cliff Floyd hit his 21st homer and an RBI single for the Mets, who squandered a chance to climb out of the NL East cellar. Pinch-hitter Jose Offerman also connected.

Ishii set down nine of his first 10 batters, then walked three straight starting the fourth. After Jim Thome struck out, Bell delivered a two-run single for the first hit of the game. CARDINALS 11, REDS 3: Fortified by a cortisone shot to his ailing neck, Larry Walker returned to host St. Louis' lineup and hit two-run homers his first two times up.

Matt Morris worked seven sharp innings, rebounding from his only loss of the year after an 8-0 start.

Cincinnati's Wily Mo Pena hit a home run estimated at 492 feet, the 10th-longest at Busch Stadium since measuring began in 1988 and the longest by an opponent.

MARLINS 6, BRAVES 5: Juan Encarnacion's single to right field with two outs in the 13th inning drove home Miguel Cabrera with the winning run, capping host Florida's second comeback of the night.

The Marlins were down to their final strike one batter earlier, before Paul Lo Duca singled to center off Adam Bernero, the ninth Atlanta pitcher. That brought Luis Castillo home with the tying run, and Encarnacion ended the 4-hour, 43-minute game soon after.

NATIONALS 3, PIRATES 2: Jose Guillen doubled in pinch-hitter Carlos Baerga to break a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning and Chad Cordero pitched a scoreless ninth in host Washington's win.

Mackowiak hit a two-run homer in the top of the third to put Pittsburgh up 2-1, but the Nationals got one back on a bases-loaded walk to Guillen in the next inning.

[Last modified June 30, 2005, 00:59:15]

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