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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, June 20, 2009

Cubs rally past Indians in 10th


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

The Cubs' Ryan Theriot celebrates with teammates after his bad-hop single scored the winning run to beat Cleveland in the 10th. The Cubs trailed by seven after four innings.

NAM Y. HUH | Associated Press

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CHICAGO — Sure looked like Kerry Wood would get the day off in his return to Wrigley Field. His new team, the Cleveland Indians, was up on his old one by seven runs.

But for the second straight day the Cubs put together a four-run rally in the eighth inning that cut the lead to one.

Suddenly, Wood was in the game, back on the mound, pitching against the Cubs. He wound up getting an ovation — then blowing the save.

Friend and former teammate Derrek Lee hit a game-tying homer in the ninth off him before Ryan Theriot's 10th-inning bad-hop single sent Chicago to a dramatic 8-7 victory.

"It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be, as far as adrenaline and being able to control that," said Wood, who spent a decade with the Cubs and saved 34 games for them a year ago before signing with the Indians as a free agent.

What he couldn't control was the hot bat of Lee, whose ninth-inning homer was his second of the game and third in two games.

Alfonso Soriano drew a two-out walk in the 10th from Luis Vizcaino (1-3) and stole second. Theriot followed with a grounder that took a crazy bounce past first baseman Victor Martinez.

"It worked out, the baseball gods were smiling on me," said Theriot after the Cubs' third win of the week in their final at-bat.

The Indians loaded the bases off Kevin Gregg (2-1) in the top of the 10th before Kosuke Fukudome made a nice catch of pinch-hitter Ryan Garko's liner to center field.

The Indians took their big lead behind Cliff Lee, last year's AL Cy Young winner, and three-run homers from Luis Valbuena and Martinez.

ANGELS 5, DODGERS 4

Juan Rivera hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning and the host Angels beat the Dodgers. Rivera's shot over the left-field wall came off reliever Guillermo Mota (3-2). Justin Speier (3-1) got the last out of the eighth and Brian Fuentes got his AL-leading 19th save by striking out Casey Blake and Matt Kemp to end it.

TIGERS 10, BREWERS 4

Marcus Thames hit a pair of two-run homers and host Detroit rallied to beat Milwaukee in a rain-shortened game that ended with one out in the bottom of the seventh. The game was also halted by rain for 2 hours, 3 minutes in the fourth. Miguel Cabrera and Curtis Granderson also homered for the Tigers. Prince Fielder hit a three-run homer for Milwaukee.

BRAVES 8, RED SOX 2

Nate McLouth homered on the game's first pitch for visiting Atlanta, and Kenshin Kawakami beat more-heralded countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka. Kawakami (4-6) allowed two hits and two runs in six innings. Matsuzaka (1-5) failed to reach the sixth inning for the sixth time in his last eight starts.

GIANTS 6, RANGERS 4

Fred Lewis hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth for host San Francisco. Aaron Rowand and Travis Ishikawa also homered for the Giants, who snapped their three-game losing streak and kept the Rangers winless in all nine games they've played at San Francisco's waterfront ballpark in the past decade.

MARINERS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 3

Ken Griffey Jr. hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the eighth inning and Rob Johnson drove in Chris Woodward with the go-ahead run to lift host Seattle over Arizona. Miguel Batista (4-2) pitched a scoreless eighth for Seattle, and David Aardsma struck out the side in the ninth for his 13th save in 14 chances.

REDS 4, WHITE SOX 3

Brandon Phillips hit a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly to help host Cincinnati end a nine-game losing streak against the Chicago White Sox. Phillips' homer off Jose Contreras (2-6) put Cincinnati ahead to stay in the sixth. Bronson Arroyo (8-5) got his first June victory by allowing two hits in 6 2/3 innings.

METS 5, RAYS 3

Fernando Nieve turned in another impressive star and Brian Schneider hit a three-run homer for host New York. In their first meeting since 2001, the Rays mustered little offense against New York and Nieve (2-0). B.J. Upton manufactured one run with his speed and later hit a two-run double.

NATIONALS 2, BLUE JAYS 1

Adam Dunn hit a bases-loaded single in the 11th inning for host Washington. With one out in the 11th, Cristian Guzman hit a line-drive infield single off the glove of Jason Frasor (5-1), then Nick Johnson and Ryan Zimmerman walked before Dunn came up.

ATHLETICS 7, PADRES 5

Orlando Cabrera doubled in two runs in the eighth inning to lift visiting Oakland over San Diego. Cabrera capped a three-run eighth with a drive into the left-field gap off Edward Mujica (2-2) to put the A's ahead.

ORIOLES 7, PHILLIES 2

Rich Hill pitched into the seventh and singled in the go-ahead run for visiting Baltimore, sending the defending World Series champs to their fourth straight loss. Hill (3-1) allowed two runs, five hits and walked four in 6 2/3 innings.

YANKEES 5, MARLINS 1

Andy Pettitte and two relievers combined on a three-hitter to lead host New York. Pettitte (7-3) was sharp outside Cody Ross' third-inning homer. Sean West (2-2) took the loss for Florida.

CARDINALS 10, ROYALS 5

Albert Pujols hit a two-run single and Ryan Ludwick hit a grand slam for visiting St. Louis. Khalil Greene and Rick Ankiel also hit consecutive homers off Kyle Davies (3-7) to give St. Louis an early seven-run lead.

TWINS 5, ASTROS 2

Kevin Slowey became the second 10-game winner in the majors, and host Minnesota beat Houston. Slowey (10-2) scattered three singles and surrendered only Michael Bourn's sacrifice fly in six innings.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ROCKIES 7, PIRATES 3

Jason Marquis shut down the Pirates with a masterful mix of sinkers and sliders over 8 2/3 innings as host Colorado won for the 14th time in 15 games. Marquis (9-4) allowed three earned runs on eight hits. Troy Tulowitzki and Brad Hawpe each homered for the Rockies, who are 16-5 since manager Jim Tracy replaced Clint Hurdle on May 29.