Cubs Continue to Win With Kimm

Bruce Kimm’s presence has pepped up the Chicago Cubs. And not even a substitution gaffe by the interim manager could spoil the atmosphere Monday night at Chicago.

“He’s always talking, he’s a communicator, he’s letting you know and he’s fun to play for,” said Todd Hundley, who hit one of three Chicago homers as the Cubs got strong pitching from Carlos Zambrano and beat the Atlanta Braves, 3-2.

Atlanta lost its third in a row. The Cubs improved to 5-1 under Kimm, including 4-0 at home.

Hundley hit a tying homer in the fifth and Alex Gonzalez followed with another homer. Mark Bellhorn also connected for the Cubs.

“The guys have a little bounce in their step. We just hope we can keep this going,” said Kimm, who replaced the fired Don Baylor just before the All-Star break.

In the ninth inning, Kimm sent Darren Lewis--who had pinch-run in the eighth--to right field, meaning he had to pull Sosa off the field.

“I made a terrible mistake. It’s unforgivable for a manager,” Kimm said. “We were fortunate we got out of it.”

Sosa came running off the field and Kimm met him at the top of the dugout to explain his mistake.

“It was a mistake. No big deal,” Sosa said. “We are all human. The last thing he wanted to do was take me out of the game and he knew it.”

Philadelphia 11, Montreal 8--Ricky Ledee, Pat Burrell and Scott Rolen homered in an eight-run ninth inning at Montreal.

Trailing 8-3, the Phillies began their big comeback on Ledee’s three-run shot off Jim Brower with one out in the ninth.

Reliever Scott Stewart then bobbled Jimmy Rollins’ grounder back to the mound before throwing wildly to first for an error and Bobby Abreu walked.

Expo Manager Frank Robinson summoned Matt Herges (2-4), who yielded a three-run shot to Burrell that put the Phillies ahead, 9-8.

Cincinnati 2, Milwaukee 0--Chris Reitsma pitched a five-hitter at Milwaukee to win for the first time since May 21.

Reitsma (4-7), who had been 0-7 in his last eight starts, struck out four and drove in a run, throwing 89 pitches in his first complete game in 47 major league starts.

Reitsma ended a streak of 151 starts by Red pitchers without a complete game.

New York 8, Florida 3--Mike Bacsik pitched a seven-hitter in his second major league start, and Mo Vaughn and Jeromy Burnitz homered at New York.

Bacsik (2-0) struck out seven and walked one to send the Marlins to their season-high fifth consecutive loss.

The Mets were without catcher Mike Piazza, who was scratched from the starting lineup because of a sore lower back.

Colorado 5, San Diego 0--Rookie Denny Stark gave up one hit over six scoreless innings at San Diego in his first start since June 3.

Stark, who replaced the struggling Denny Neagle in the rotation, held the Padres hitless for 5 1/3 innings before giving up Ramon Vazquez’s double to left field.

Pittsburgh 5, Houston 4--Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run homer with two out in the top of the ninth off Billy Wagner to lift the Pirates at Houston.