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Cubs Lead Marlins 2-1 After Six Innings

Posted on: Friday, 10 October 2003, 06:00 CDT

Sammy Sosa hurt the Florida Marlins again, lining an RBI single Friday night that helped Kerry Wood and the Chicago Cubs take a 2-1 lead after six innings in Game 3 of the NL championship series.

Sosa homered in each of the first two games of the series, which was tied 1-1.

Wood allowed five hits and a run through six innings, another strong start for the 24-year-old right-hander.

Wood was brilliant in two starts against the Atlanta Braves in the division series. He gave up two hits and two runs in 7 1-3 innings, leading the Cubs to a 4-2 victory in the opener. He allowed five hits and one run in eight innings in Game 5 in a 5-1 win that clinched the series.

The Marlins had a good scoring chance in the fifth, loading the bases with two outs, but Wood struck out Ivan Rodriguez.

Juan Pierre singled between walks to pitcher Mark Redman and Luis Castillo to load the bases for Rodriguez, who was fourth in the NL this season in hitting with runners in scoring position (.375). But Rodriguez struck out on three pitches - all breaking balls.

Sosa, meanwhile, continued to hit balls hard against Florida.

He hit a two-run homer off Brad Penny in Game 2 on Wednesday, putting the Cubs ahead 4-0 in the second inning. His two-run shot in the ninth off closer Ugueth Urbina tied the opener before the Marlins won in 11 innings.

Sosa's liner in the first inning Friday might have been a homer in comfy Wrigley Field, but it bounced hard off the wall at Pro Player Stadium - where a sellout crowd included several thousand Cubs fans.

Kenny Lofton, who singled to start the game and moved to second on Mark Grudzielanek's sacrifice, scored without a throw.

Redman was shaken up covering first base on Lofton's infield single. The left-hander sprinted to first when Lofton pulled a two-hopper toward first baseman Derrek Lee.

As Redman touched the base with his right foot, he landed awkwardly on his left foot and spun to the ground. Lofton might have collided with Redman crossing the base.

Redman was slow to rise, but after consulting with the team trainer and throwing several practice tosses, he stayed in the game.

The Cubs added a run in the second after loading the bases with one out. Eric Karros singled and advanced to third on consecutive walks. Karros then tagged and scored on Wood's short sacrifice fly to center.

Juan Pierre, who has one of the weakest outfield arms in the league, didn't even make it close. His throw bounced off the pitcher's mound.

Redman settled down after the second, retiring 12 of the next 16 batters. Two reached on walks.

The Marlins cut the lead in half with a run in the second. Alex Gonzalez, who entered the game 1-for-24 in the playoffs, doubled off the wall in left, scoring Miguel Cabrera from second.

Cabrera reached base on a broken-bat, bloop single. Jeff Conine singled to right with two outs, setting the table for Gonzalez.

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