Major League Recap (Cleveland-Chicago Cubs)
Posted: Tues June 23, 1998 at 12:26 a.m EDT
CLEVELAND 3, Chicago
Cubs 1
Dwight
Gooden continued his dominance at Wrigley Field by allowing just four
hits over six innings as the Cleveland Indians
topped the Chicago Cubs, 3-1, in their interleague contest.
Gooden (2-3) tossed 43 of 69 pitches for strikes and allowed Henry
Rodriguez's 14th homer leading off the fifth. He also struck out two
and did not walk a batter to improve to 28-4 in his career against the
Cubs, including 9-1 at Wrigley Field. Gooden has not lost to the Cubs since
June 29th, 1992.
"It's no fun pitching in Wrigley Field, but I was able to move the
ball in and out," Gooden said.
Four relievers combined to limit the Cubs to three hits with a walk
and three strikeouts over the final three innings. Mike Jackson
yielded a hit in the ninth en route to his 15th save in 18 opportunities.
"The atmosphere in the park tonight was unbelievable," Cleveland
manager Mike Hargrove said. "We were fortunate to win the game. Doc
pitched great and we were able to create scoring chances with our speed."
Kevin
Tapani (8-6) surrendered two runs and six hits with four walks and five
strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. It was Tapani's second loss in his last
five home starts.
"One home run should not beat you in your home park," Tapani said.
"Right now, we are treading water and it is frustrating. I was ready to
pitch tonight, but it just did not happen."
Sammy
Sosa, who belted nine homers last week for National League Player of
the Week honors, went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and grounded into a
double play. Chicago has dropped nine of its last 12.
Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in the third when David Bell led
off with his fourth homer off Tapani. After Rodriguez's blast in the fifth
tied the score, the game was delayed when rowdy fans threw cups of beer at
Indians left fielder David Justice.
The Cubs had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the sixth.
Tapani singled to start the inning and took second on a groundout. After
Mickey
Morandini's single put runners on the corners, Gooden got Sosa to
ground into a inning-ending double play.
"To me the pitch to Sosa was the game," Gooden added. "When you are
tied late in the game against their hottest hitter, and he grounds into a
double play, you just thank your lucky stars."
"Gooden threw strikes," said Cubs manager Jim Riggleman said. "He used
his curveball well, pitched inside, just kept us off-balance and then he
got the key play when Sammy grounded into a double play."
The Indians regained the lead in the seventh when Kenny Lofton
drew a two-out walk, stole second and scored on Omar Vizquel's
single to center field.
But Justice exacted some revenge in the ninth. Vizquel led off with a
single, stole second, took third on catcher Sandy
Martinez's throwing error and scored on Justice's single.
A ninth-inning rally by the Cubs fell short. Mickey Morandini opened
with a walk off Paul
Assenmacher. Jackson came on to pitch and got Sosa to foul out. Mark Grace
singled and the runners moved up on a groundout but were stranded when Jose
Hernandez lined out to shortstop.
Hernandez went 0-for-4 to end his 10-game hitting streak.
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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