Fish Fried In Cubs' 11th

Mark Grace was thankful the Florida Marlins limited Alex Fernandez's pitch count Tuesday night. Otherwise, the Chicago Cubs slugger figured he'd have no chance for heroics.

With Fernandez finally removed to the dugout, Grace hit a three-run homer in the 11th inning as the Cubs beat Florida 4-1 for the Marlins' 10th straight home loss.

"We hung around and finally got the big blow," Grace said.

Grace's sixth homer of the season ended what began as a night of frustration for Cubs batters, who managed just two hits through seven innings as Fernandez made a dynamic return from the disabled list.

Fernandez, out the past two weeks with a pulled groin, struck out five as he faced just one batter over the minimum and allowed one runner to reach second. The right-hander threw 81 pitches, four shy of his limit, with 48 going for strikes.

"I was glad he was on a pitch count, or else he'd have thrown 12 shutout innings," Grace said. "He wears us out."

Fernandez was seeking his first win since opening day, when he beat the New York Mets 6-2 after missing all of 1998 while recovering from rotator-cuff surgery. He later spent time on the DL with shoulder soreness, then went back after straining his groin May 2 against Houston.

"I feel good. I had a lot of fun out there today," Fernandez said. "I was pitching like myself again."

Chicago's Felix Heredia (2-0) earned the win with one scoreless inning of relief, striking out two. Scott Sanders got three outs for his first save, the Cubs' first since placing closer Rod Beck on the disabled list with a bone spur in his elbow.

"We're just trying to get the last out," Chicago manager Jim Riggleman said. "I don't care who gets it, as long as it's a Cub."

Alex Gonzalez had all three Florida hits, including a leadoff homer in the seventh inning that broke a scoreless tie. The Marlins have not won at homsince April 27, when they shut out the Cubs 8-0.

It also was Florida's second loss since manager John Boles left the team to undergo emergency back surgery Monday. Third base coach Fredi Gonzalez has been managing in Boles' absence.

"We just need to try to hold our heads up high and do the best we can. That's all we can do," said left fielder Cliff Floyd, who went 0-for-4.

Fernandez and Chicago's Terry Mulholland had engaged in a scoreless duel until Gonzalez put the Marlins ahead in the seventh. The rookie hit an 0-1 pitch from Mulholland over the left-field scoreboard for his third home run this season.

Mulholland also went seven innings, allowing three hits and striking out five.

"I've got to tip my hat to Alex (Fernandez). He kept us off stride all evening," Riggleman said. "But Terry Mulholland was right there with him."

With Fernandez gone, Chicago tied the game 1-1 in the eighth against relievers Vic Darensbourg and Brian Edmondson.

Tyler Houston reached on a forceout against Darensbourg and went to third on a Jose Hernandez single off Edmondson. Benito Santiago followed with a sharp grounder that shortstop Gonzalez couldn't field cleanly, going for an RBI single.

Sosa appeared to put the Cubs ahead with a long drive in the ninth, but the ball went to the "Bermuda Triangle," the cutout area in left-center that is the deepest part of Pro Player Stadium. Center fielder Preston Wilson made the catch right in front of the wall.

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