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Mike Piazza
isn't putting up numbers like he used to, but the All-Star catcher has certainly made a difference for the
San Diego Padres
against the
Chicago Cubs
during their weekend series.
The Padres look to complete a season sweep of the Cubs on Sunday when the teams close out a three-game series at Wrigley Field.
The Padres (21-16), who have won 13 of their last 14 games, swept the Cubs (15-21) last week in a four-game series at San
Diego. Piazza hit a three-run ninth-inning home run off Cubs closer
Ryan Dempster
to provide the winning margin in a 4-3 victory Saturday, and the veteran backstop has five hits and five RBIs in the first
two games of this series.
''Just elation,'' said Piazza, whose homer was the 401st of his career. ''Any time you get a chance to come back, especially
in a game that (Greg) Maddux is pitching so well - we were fortunate.''
Piazza, who is hitting .253 overall, has a .326 batting average (14-for-43) on the road. He has nine homers and 36 RBIs in
217 lifetime at-bats at Wrigley Field.
San Diego's previous best season record against Chicago was 8-4, accomplished in 1980, 1982 and 1991, and the Padres have
not swept a three-game series at Wrigley Field since Sept. 4-6, 1992.
The Cubs have lost three straight and 12 of their last 13 games, continuing a free fall that coincided with the wrist injury
to star first baseman
Derek Lee
.
Greg Maddux
, who was on the verge of his NL-high sixth win, has five of Chicago's nine victories by starting pitchers.
Rookie pitcher
Rich Hill
(0-2, 9.00 ERA) will try to help the Cubs avoid a sweep as they hope he is more effective than his first two starts. The right-hander
went six innings Tuesday against the Giants, giving up five runs and eight hits while walking three and striking out four
in a 6-1 loss.
''I think everybody's just dealing with it in their own way,'' Hill said last week of the Cubs' skid. ''I don't see anybody
getting tight. We're still loose and having fun. It's tough to stay positive but the only way you'll get out of it is to stay
positive and keep believing.''
The Padres turn to
Clay Hensley
(1-2, 4.73), who is making his sixth start. The rookie right-hander hasn't received a decision in his last two starts, including
Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the
Milwaukee Brewers
. Hensley allowed four runs and eight hits, including two home runs, in five innings before the Padres suffered a 10-inning
loss. pitched five innings, giving up four runs and eight hits - two of which were home runs - while walking three and striking
out four.
Cubs outfielder
Jacque Jones
, who picked up his 1,000th hit with an RBI single Saturday, is 18-for-51 (.353) with three homers and nine RBIs in his last
15 games.
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