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NL briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 19, 2001

Two Cubs win third in sweep

CHICAGO -- Cubs pitchers have a bit of a swagger when they come to the park these days.

Each starter seems to take the mound certain he's going to win. And when he's done, the next in line wants to do him one better.

That's how it was Wednesday. A few hours after Kevin Tapani became the league's first three-game winner, Jason Bere joined him as the Cubs swept a doubleheader. Chicago beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 in the first game and 5-3 in the second.

"All five of us have taken the ball and done our job," Bere said. "We're showing up now at the park knowing we have a chance to win each and every day. That's what you need to be there at the end."

The doubleheader sweep was the Cubs' first since July 19, 1997, when they beat the Rockies at Wrigley Field. Chicago's 10-5 record is its best after 15 games since 1995.

"We set a goal in spring training to get off to a good start," Cubs manager Don Baylor said. "We're not dealing with the negatives, just dealing with the positives. And I think we're seeing some of the results."

Bere held the Phillies scoreless for eight innings before walking two to the start the ninth.

He was replaced by Mike Fyrhie, and Rob Ducey hit a run-scoring single. Jeff Fassero relieved and gave up a two-run double to Mike Lieberthal before getting the last out for his second save of the day and eighth of the season.

"Unless my arm's dragging on the ground, I'll take the ball," said the 38-year-old Fassero, who had 10 career saves before this season.

Bill Mueller homered in the first inning, his third, and Rondell White started a three-run fourth inning with a homer. Todd Hundley and Ricky Gutierrez also drove in runs in the fourth, when the Cubs chased Phillies starter Randy Wolf. Julio Zuleta added an RBI in the fifth.

In the first game, Tapani held the Phillies to one run, Pat Burrell's home run in the second inning. That raised his ERA to 0.96 from 0.69, still good enough for second in the majors.

EXPOS 7, METS 1: Montreal pitcher Javier Vazquez had as many hits as New York.

And he lasted six innings, while the Mets had to go the full nine.

Vazquez sprained his right ankle running the bases in front of Jose Vidro's three-run homer and left after holding the host Mets to two singles over six innings. Three relievers completed the two-hitter.

A sore heel forced Vazquez out of the game.

"He has a heel problem," manager Felipe Alou said. "He pitched a couple of innings in pain. He limped to cover first base once, and I thought he just had to come out because it was bothering him."

BRAVES 1, MARLINS 0: Atlanta is making things tough on its pitchers. Tom Glavine was up to the challenge, allowing three hits in seven innings as the host Braves made a first-inning run stand.

Atlanta has been in a seasonlong hitting slump, hitting .221 as a team and scoring more than four runs twice in 16 games.

The Braves went through a typical struggle in the series finale against Florida, going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Still, they won their second straight series and got back to .500.

"When the offense is struggling, you try to assume a little bit bigger role," said Glavine, who won his second straight start. "You want to take pressure off the offense as much as you can."

PIRATES 8, ASTROS 4: John Vander Wal went 4-for-4 with a home run and three RBI as host Pittsburgh spoiled Shane Reynolds' return to the Houston rotation.

Reynolds was making his first start since July 29. His 2000 season ended early of degenerative discs in his lower back, and he was late to spring training because of surgery to repair his left knee.

BREWERS 7, REDS 4: Jose Hernandez fouled off six two-strike pitches before hitting a three-run homer as Milwaukee earned its first road win of the season. The Brewers lost their first five away from Miller Park and were the last team in the majors to get a road win.

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