Nomo, Brewers Rout Cubs

Hideo Nomo showed the Chicago Cubs first-hand what they could have had.
Nomo allowed two runs in seven-plus innings Wednesday to beat one of the teams that released him earlier this season in the Milwaukee Brewers 11-4 win over the Chicago Cubs.

Nomo was released by the Mets in spring training before signing with the Cubs. After three starts in Triple-A, the Cubs cut him loose and he has since become Milwaukee's best starter.

"You have to base your decisions on what you see," Chicago manager Jim Riggleman said. "He wasn't throwing that way then. We asked him to go down and throw another time. He refused to do it, so that was it."

Nomo denied having any revenge factor, however.

"None," Nomo said. "None whatsoever."

Nomo (4-1) allowed four hits and struck out seven as he continues to show the form that helped him win the NL's Rookie of the Year in 1995 for Los Angeles.

"I thought he might have had his best split-finger that we've seen this year," Milwaukee manager Phil Garner said. "He's had good splits all along. I thought he had a terrific outing."

Nomo even drove in Milwaukee's first run with an RBI single in the second inning off Steve Trachsel (2-9), who leads the majors in losses.

Nomo has struck out six or more batters in six of his eight starts. His only mistake came in the second inning when Tyler Houston's solo home run gave Chicago a brief 1-0 lead.

Sammy Sosa went 0-for-3, snapping his career-high 18-game hitting streak. The Cubs have lost for the sixth time in seven games.

"You have to give him (Nomo) credit," Sosa said. "He pitched a great game. His forkball was working. He used it with a fastball and breaking pitches. He's a gamer."

Milwaukee's offense made it easy for Nomo as Jeromy Burnitz and Brian Banks each hit solo homers. Burnitz also hit a two-run double as the Brewers won a home series for the first time this season.

"Everything is just starting to come around, hopefully," Burnitz said.

Trailing 1-0, Milwaukee scored three run in the bottom of the second on Nomo's RBI single and a two-run double by Mark Loretta.

Burnitz's 16th homer on the first pitch in the third made it 4-1 and Banks hit his second homer in the fourth.

Burnitz hit his two-run double and Jeff Cirillo added a two-run single in the sixth.

Trachsel lost for the fifth straight time, allowing five runs and five hits in four innings.

Nomo left after walking Curtis Goodwin to lead off the eighth. Eric Plunk then allowed a two-run double to Henry Rodriguez and an RBI infield single to Jeff Blauser.

"When he opened up the eighth and he wasn't close, that's when I thought he probably had enough," Garner said.

Bobby Hughes added an RBI single for the Brewers in the eighth and Ron Belliard scored on a wild pitch by Doug Creek.

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