Mulholland, Cubs Blank Mets

Terry Mulholland heard a familiar voice before he'd even thrown his first pitch Saturday in his first start of the season for the Chicago Cubs.

The lady belting out the National Anthem just happened to be his fiance, Kiara Hunter.

"Just a coincidence. The (singing) schedule was set long ago," Mulholland said after the Cubs beat the New York Mets 2-0. "I've got to get her out here more often."

Perhaps the Cubs should send Mulholland out as a starter more often.

He gave the injury-ravaged staff a lift Saturday, allowing just seven hits in 6 1-3 innings as the Cubs posted their first shutout of the year. Sammy Sosa hit his fourth homer and his great rally-snuffing catch in the eighth inning preserved the win..

"We needed somebody to go out and make a start. It's pretty simple, really," said Mulholland, whose first seven appearances this season came in relief.

"I didn't feel tired or fatigued. I struggled the first three innings, I got lucky early and then I got in a groove. I just tried to go as far as I could."

Mulholland (1-0) made his first start since last September for a Cubs team with five pitchers currently on the disabled list. And Chicago's scheduled starter Sunday, Jon Lieber, will miss that outing after being hit in the eye by a thrown ball during batting practice. He suffered no serious damage to his eye.

After Mulholland gave up seventh-inning walks to Rickey Henderson and John Olerud, he was replaced by Dan Serafini, who got Bobby Bonilla to hit into a double play the third turned by the Cubs.

With one out in the eighth, the Mets had first and second when Rey Ordonez hit a long drive to right.

Sosa, staring into a brilliant sun that had caused the Mets to misplay two fly balls Friday, ran back and then reached up and snagged the ball. Had it gone over his head, it could have tied the game.

"After 2 or 3 in the afternoon, the sun is in your face," Sosa said. "I lost it a little ad I kept running back until the ball was out of the sun. I reached for it and saved the game."

Struggling Rod Beck, the fourth Cubs reliever of the day, shook off boos and pitched the ninth for his third save. It was the Cubs' first shutout since last August when Kevin Tapani and Beck combined to blank Arizona.

The Mets stranded 12 runners and were shutout for the first time this year.

"We had a lot of men on base but couldn't put one more hit together," Mets manager Bobby Valentine said.

"I thought Sammy's play was really key. It could have been a tie game."

Sosa greeted Mets reliever Josias Manzanillo with a long homer to right center against a 10 mph wind, leading off the bottom of the sixth.

The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the fourth Lance Johnson led off with a triple for the first hit off Allen Watson (1-2) and scored one out later on Mark Grace's single to center.

The Mets loaded the bases twice in the first four innings but couldn't push across a run against Mulholland, who was aided by two double plays and a good play behind second by Mickey Morandini. Mulholland walked five and struck out three.

Watson allowed only two hits in five innings before leaving for a pinch-hitter after suffering back spasms. He is now 1-7 in nine career games against the Cubs.

Notes: Lieber suffered no major damage to his eye, but has swelling and discomfort and will miss Sunday's start with Brad Woodall getting the call. Lieber will be re-examined Monday. ... Ordonez, upset when he was left out of the starting lineup Friday for a second straight game, was back as the starting shortstop Saturday. Ordonez hit a game-winning sacrifice fly in the Mets' 6-5 victory Friday after entering the game late. He started Saturday's game hitting just .170 and then went 2-for-3 with a walk. ... There was an announced crowd of 38,516 on another chilly day with game-time temperature just 47 degrees. ... The Mets will activate Mike Piazza from the DL on Sunday. He's been on retroactive to April 10 with a sprained right knee.

©1998 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed