Everything Goes Foul for Cubs in Loss

Curtis Goodwin’s three-run home run in the 12th inning gave the Cincinnati Reds a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs Saturday night at Cincinnati.

The Cubs blew a ninth-inning lead and had a home run by Sammy Sosa overturned on appeal.

Pokey Reese started the winning rally with a leadoff walk from Turk Wendell (2-3). After reliever Kent Mercker’s sacrifice and an intentional walk to Deion Sanders, Goodwin hit the first pitch for his first National League home run.

Before the two late homers, the Reds were 0-25 when trailing after eight innings.

“It can’t get any more exciting than that,” said Goodwin, who has two home runs in 495 career at-bats. “You dream about hitting a game-winning homer. I don’t think it can get any better than this unless next time is a grand slam--and I doubt that.”

Jeff Shaw (1-0) gave up three hits in three innings for the win.

Chicago took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth when relief pitcher Mel Rojas gave up a one-out home run to Eddie Taubensee. Rojas has blown three save opportunities in seven chances.

The Cubs were still smarting from a controversial play involving Sosa, who hit one home run and had another overturned on appeal in the ninth.

Sosa homered for the third consecutive game--one of only two Chicago hits through eight innings--and was at the center of a dispute in the ninth. Third base umpire Frank Pulli initially ruled that his drive down the left-field line was fair, though the ball appeared to hook foul.

As Sosa rounded the bases for what would have been a two-run home run and a 3-0 lead, Pulli consulted with home plate umpire Greg Bonin, who ruled the ball had gone foul.

“The last time I saw the ball, it was fair,” Pulli said. “I lost the ball in the lights and I screwed up. My partner made the right call.”

Cub Manager Jim Riggleman was ejected after arguing with Bonin. Second base umpire Eric Gregg intervened to keep Riggleman away from Bonin.

“When he hit the ball I didn’t think it was going to be fair. Then I thought it was a fair ball,” Riggleman said. “It was probably a foul ball, but I thought it was fair and that’s why I argued.

“The bottom line is they’re supposed to get the call right and they probably did.”

New York 8, Philadelphia 4--The Phillies came up short in their comeback bid.

The Mets nearly blew a big lead in the ninth before Met reliever John Franco retired Darren Daulton on a bases-loaded groundout.

Trailing 8-1 entering the ninth, the Phillies scored three runs and had the potential tying run at the plate before Franco came in and got Daulton on a hard ground ball to first for his 13th save.

Mickey Morandini went four for five with a double and a triple.

Bernard Gilkey and Butch Huskey each hit home runs and drove in two runs.

Houston 7, Colorado 0--Darryl Kile, winless in his first three starts in hitter-friendly Coors Field, pitched seven strong innings and Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio each hit home runs at Denver. Kile (5-2), who is 4-0 in his last five games with a 0.47 ERA during that span, gave up four hits and three walks, striking out five. The Rockies suffered their 13th loss in 17 games.

“I think in this ballpark, with the lineup they have, every inning is a possible threat,” Kile said “They’re stacked one through nine. Those guys can get on base any time, and one swing of the bat they can throw a four-spot on you.”

Colorado’s only scoring threat came when Larry Walker doubled in the sixth inning, following a 43-minute rain delay that stopped play after the fifth.

St. Louis 9, San Francisco 3--Andy Benes gave up two runs in the first inning, then settled down to strike out 12 and Ray Lankford drove in four runs as the Cardinals won for the second time in eight games at San Francisco.

Benes (3-2) gave up five hits before leaving after seven innings with an 8-2 lead. He also singled twice, scored two runs and also drove in a run with a squeeze bunt.

Joe Roa (1-3) lasted four innings, giving up four runs on seven hits.

Montreal 7, Pittsburgh 3--Rookie Vladimir Guerrero drove in a season-high four runs and pitcher Jeff Juden won his 10th consecutive decision at Montreal.

Guerrero hit a two-run double in the first for a 3-0 lead, had an run-scoring single in the third that made it 5-0, and added a run-scoring grounder in the seventh to put Montreal up 7-3.

Juden (5-0) gave up three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings. He has not lost a major league game since 1995, winning four games with the Giants and one with the Expos last season.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Jeff Bagwell Houston Hit his NL-leading 16th home run Win Ray Lankford St. Louis 1 for 3, 1 run, 4 RBIs Win Raul Mondesi Dodgers 3 for 4, home run, 2 RBIs, 2 runs Win Moises Alou Florida 3 for 3, 2 RBIs, 2 runs Win

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Darryl Kile Houston 7 innings, Win four hits, no runs, 5 strikeouts Ramon Martinez Dodgers Three-hitter, Win 8 strikeouts, 2 earned runs

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