Sosa stays in park, but Cubs win regardless

AP PHOTO Sammy Sosa was ecstatic last night after his Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants to advance to the National League playoffs. Sosa did not homer, so he finished with 66.

The Final Tally

Yesterday:

2-4, 2 Runs, 0 Hr

Season completed

Season completed

Sosa:

66

70

CHICAGO (AP) - All season long, Sammy Sosa won games with the long ball. Last night, he kept the ball in the park and on the ground as he sparked the Chicago Cubs to a playoff berth. Sosa's heroics throughout the season drew attention to the surging Cubs, who, despite losing game No. 162 on Sunday, took advantage of their second chance yesterday.

With a home run boost from castoff Gary Gaetti and two key singles by Sosa, the Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants, 5-3, to win the frenetic one-game playoff for the NL wild-card spot.

They survived despite a three-run rally in the ninth by the Giants.

Barry Bonds, who grounded out with the bases loaded to end the seventh, came up again with the bases loaded but managed only a sacrifice fly.

The Cubs haven't been to a World Series since 1945 and haven't won one in 90 years, yet they're going to the postseason for the first time since 1989.

Cubs pitcher Steve Trachsel (15-8), who surrendered Mark McGwire's 62nd home run, didn't give up a hit until pinch-hitter Brent Mayne singled with one out in the seventh.

Trailing 4-0, the Giants went on to load the bases with two outs and brought Bonds to the plate.

But the three-time MVP, who has struggled in the postseason, grounded out against reliever Felix Heredia and slammed his helmet to the ground.

In the ninth, reliever Kevin Tapani gave up a pair of leadoff singles. That brought on Terry Mulholland, who went eight innings and threw 121 pitches Sunday.

Trachsel and Giants starter Mark Gardner kept it scoreless until the fifth inning. Singles by Lance Johnson and Sosa drove out Gardner (13-6) in the sixth.

Sosa went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles, scoring in the eighth on Jose Mesa's wild pitch.

Sosa finished the regular season, because this game's numbers counted, with 66 home runs, trailing McGwire's 70.

Despite the home run disparity, both Sosa and McGwire will receive credit for passing Roger Maris' home run record of 61 in 1961.

But Sosa gets something McGwire doesn't - a chance to play into October.

09-29-98