Cubs Hand Braves Another Loss

Rod Beck is still the Chicago Cubs closer even if he isn't finishing games lately.

Beck provided late-inning drama for the second straight game Saturday as the Cubs hung on for a 9-8 victory over the Atlanta Braves, who lost their third straight game for the first time this year.

Matt Mieske and Henry Rodriguez both homered for the Cubs. Mieske, subbing for the injured Sammy Sosa, hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning before Rodriguez led off the sixth with his 11th home run, prompting a shower of Oh Henry! candy bars from bleacher fans.

Steve Trachsel (6-1) won his fourth straight decision, giving up four runs on six hits and three walks in six innings. He improved to 5-0 in seven starts at Wrigley Field this season.

But the game nearly turned in the Braves ninth. Atlanta scored four runs and had the tying run at second base with one out before reliever Bob Patterson got Ryan Klesko to hit a soft liner to shortstop Jeff Blauser. Blauser doubled Tony Graffinino off at second base and Patterson earned his first save.

"I know the guy," said Blauser who was playing deeper than usual for his former teammate. "It was obvious that Klesko was trying to hit a home run."

It also was obvious that Beck wasn't on.

"I didn't feel like it was his day today," said Cubs manager Jim Riggleman, who pulled Beck so Patterson could face Klesko. "You've got to manage for the 25 (players on the team), not the one. The easy thing to do would be to leave him (Beck) in."

Terry Mulholland was charged with all four runs in the ninth, allowing an RBI single to Danny Bautista and leaving with the bases loaded and no outs.

Beck allowed an RBI single to Graffinino, a walk to Chipper Jones and a sacrifice fly by Andres Galarraga before giving way to Patterson. Unsuccessful in each of his last three save opportunities, Beck said nothing is wrong.

"I'm not doing anything different," he said. "I'm throwing the ball over the plate and guys are putting it in play. Unfortunately, balls have been dropping. Guys aren't tattooing it. They're dropping in frot of outfielders."

"I know I'm the closer on this ballclub," he said. "There's no doubt about that."

Beck still has his job but Riggleman won't be as patient.

" I don't care who gets the save as long as it's the Cubs," Riggleman said.

In the last nine games, the Cubs bullpen has struggled, giving up 28 runs on 45 hits and 15 walks over 26 innings. The Cubs are 3-6 in that stretch.

"It was a great comeback," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said, "but our pitching wasn't too good today."

You won't hear that too often from the Braves.

Kevin Millwood (7-2) failed in his bid to become the NL's first eight-game winner, giving up six runs on nine hits and two walks in three innings. Teammate Tom Glavine also missed posting his eighth win when he got a no-decision in Atlanta's 5-3 11-inning loss Friday to the Cubs.

" I had one good inning ," Millwood said. "If I made a good pitch, they hit it. If I made a bad pitch, they got a hit."

The Cubs, playing in front of 39,817, the largest home crowd this year, won their second consecutive game after losing four in a row.

Mickey Morandini, who had four hits, hit an RBI double in the Cubs' first. Mieske followed with his first home run, which cleared the left field bleachers and landed on Waveland Avenue, to make it 3-0.

Andruw Jones hit his first of two RBI doubles to make it 3-1 in the second.

The Cubs scored three in the bottom of the inning on Mark Grace's two-run double and Blauser's RBI single.

Jones added another rbi double in the fourth and pinch-hitter Gerald Williams hit a two-run single to make it 6-4.

Mieske and Grace both walked and Blauser singled against Braves reliever Alan Embree to load the bases in the fourth. Jose Hernandez hit into a fielder's choice, forcing Mieske at the plate. But Grace scored on an error by Galarraga at first when he collided with Hernandez and dropped catcher Javy Lopez's throw. Sandy Martinez then singled, scoring Blauser, to make it 8-4.

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