Cubs Continue On Winless Path

National League

The Chicago Cubs, a team that has not won a World Series in nearly 90 years and has not been in one for 42 years, broke new ground in futility Tuesday.

By losing 10-7 to the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field in Chicago, the Cubs extended their season-opening losing streak to 11 games, a modern National League record.

The loss broke the mark set by the 1988 Atlanta Braves, who started 0-10, and matched the league record held since 1884 by a Detroit club known as the Wolverines. If the Cubs continue their losing ways for 11 more games, they would break the major league record of 21 straight losses to open a season, set by the Baltimore Orioles in 1988.

“We are down as much as we can be down after 11 ball games,” said Cubs manager Jim Riggleman.

“This is a bad situation to be in, but the only way we’re going to come out of it is by doing everything our guys are doing. So far it hasn’t been enough, but it will.”

Pirates 3, Padres 2

Pittsburgh

Tony Womack was hit in the face by a Sterling Hitchcock pitch with the bases loaded in the ninth, shakily got to his feet minutes later and wobbled to first base with a trainer at his side as Pittsburgh defeated San Diego.

Greg Vaughn hit his third homer in the top of the ninth off Pirates closer John Ericks (1-0) to tie it. Jason Kendall and rookie Jose Guillen singled to start the Pittsburgh ninth off Padres starter Andy Ashby (0-1).

Mets 5, Dodgers 0

New York

Butch Huskey - who wears No. 42 to honor Jackie Robinson - led off the fifth inning with a single off Ismael Valdes (1-2), starting what would prove to be the decisive inning.

Armando Reynoso (1-0), brought up from the minors earlier in the day, allowed six hits in five shutout innings.

Braves 3, Reds 0

Atlanta

John Smoltz pitched his 10th career shutout and Jeff Blauser and Ryan Klesko each hit RBI triples for Atlanta.

The Braves won their fourth in a row and 10th in 11 games. Atlanta is 7-1 at Turner Field.

Cardinals 9, Marlins 3

Miami

Brady Raggio won his major league debut, outpitching Alex Fernandez and driving in a run for St. Louis.

The 24-year-old Raggio, called up Monday from Triple-A Louisville, allowed five hits and two runs in 5-1/3 innings. His one-out squeeze bunt in the fourth gave the Cardinals a 4-0 lead.

Expos 7, Astros 5

Houston

Pedro Martinez, appearing for the first time this year after serving a suspension for taking part in a brawl last Sept. 24, pitched six strong innings for Montreal.

Martinez allowed three hits and struck out six in six innings to take the victory.

Giants 8, Phillies 4

Philadelphia

Jeff Kent homered in his third consecutive game and San Francisco won its fifth in a row.

The Giants matched their best start on the road at 4-0, having also done it in 1963. Philadelphia lost its fourth straight game.

Clearing the bases

The Pirates won in their third home game of the season after starting 0-4 in 1996 and 1-7 in 1995. … Braves pinch-hitters are 2 for 20. … Deion Sanders of the Reds is 10 for 10 on steal attempts. The rest of the Reds are 9 for 11.