NEW YORK, 1 June 2004 — Derrek Lee had three hits and four RBI as the Chicago Cubs broke out of a slump at the plate with 17 hits to bomb the Pirates 12-1 in National League play in Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Chicago had lost five games in a row before breaking out against the Pirates, matching season-highs in both runs and hits in the game.
Aramis Ramirez and Michael Barrett both added three hits for the Cubs, while Moises Alou had two hits and drove in a pair of runs for Chicago. Carlos Zambrano (5-2) allowed one run on eight hits over six innings, striking out eight and walking three. He also hit three batters.
John Grabow (0-2) was the loser in relief, allowing one unearned run on one hit in 1 1/3 innings. The Cubs scored seven runs in the ninth inning and things got so bad, Pittsburgh used infielder Abraham Nunez on the mound to get the final out - which he did immediately. Jason Kendall and Daryle Ward both had two hits for the Pirates, who had eight hits in the game as their three-game winning streak came to an end.
In other games, Jason Schmidt tossed a two-hitter over eight-plus innings, leading the San Francisco Giants to their ninth straight win, a 3-1 decision over the Colorado Rockies.
Schmidt (6-2) gave up one run, striking out 11 and walking four. Matt Herges got the last two outs in the ninth for his 16th save of the season. Michael Tucker hit a two-run homer for San Francisco, while Pedro Felix had three hits and drove in a run.
Barry Bonds sat out for the Giants, who start a 14-game road trip on Monday.
Tomo Ohka pitched 6 2/3 solid innings and hit eighth in the order, the first major league pitcher to do that in five years, as the Montreal Expos beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-2.
Ohka (3-5) allowed two runs, one earned, on eight hits with three strikeouts and three walks while going 0-for-2 at the plate. Chad Cordero pitched two shutout innings for his first save and Brad Wilkerson and Endy Chavez homered for Montreal.
In Philadelphia, Eric Milton pitched seven strong innings to help the Phillies score a 4-1 win over the Atlanta Braves.
Milton (6-1) gave up one run on three hits with eight strikeouts and three walks.
Tim Worrell got the last four outs for his seventh save and Jim Thome hit a two-run homer and David Bell a solo shot.
Travis Smith (0-1) allowed two runs on three hits over six innings with five strikeouts and two walks.
Ismael Valdez scattered nine hits over seven innings as the San Diego Padres edged the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2. Valdez (4-2) allowed two runs and had an RBI ground-rule double at the plate. Brian Giles had a two-run triple and Phil Nevin homered for San Diego, before Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 14th save. Victor Santos (2-2) allowed five runs on eight hits over six innings.
Craig Counsell had three hits and drove in a run for the Brewers.
In Houston, Tim Redding tossed a four-hitter over 7 1/3 shutout innings as the Astros pounded the St. Louis Cardinals 7-1. Mike Lamb, Jeff Bagwell and Lance Berkman all hit two-run homers for the Cards. Redding (3-3) struck out four and walked three.
Miguel Cabrera homered and drove in four runs as the Florida Marlins defeated the New York Mets 8-6. Alex Gonzalez homered for the Marlins, who completed a three-game sweep.
Toby Borland (1-0), the fourth Florida pitcher, got the win despite allowing two runs. Starter Josh Beckett left after 2 2/3 innings with a blister on his finger.
In Los Angeles, Kazuhisa Ishii pitched six shutout innings, leading the Dodgers to a 3-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Ishii (6-3) allowed three hits with one strikeout and four walks.
