Tapani, Cubs Shut Out Dodgers 5-0

Maybe it's a Kerry over. Or just a Chicago Cubs team finally with enough talent to play good baseball. The reasoning isn't important, says Kevin Tapani. The results are.

"We haven't spent a lot of time figuring how we're doing it," Tapani said after his three-hitter Wednesday beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-0 for the Cubs' eighth win in nine games.

"The best part is that you can't put your finger on one thing," he said. " Some days we score eight or nine runs, then we pitch good and we've won some one-run games."

Rookie Kerry Wood's overpowering pitching has not only pumped up fans but his teammates, too. Including Wood's 20-strikeout game against Houston, the Cubs are 11-3 in their last 14 games.

"Kerry has added a little excitement on the day he pitches but the other guys have done a job on their own," Cubs manager Jim Riggleman said.

"You win a few games and you just want to pick up where you left off the previous day and contribute," said Tapani (6-2), who became the team's first six-game winner.

He pitched Chicago's fourth complete game of the season, just two fewer than the team's total in all of 1997.

"Nobody 'til Kerry got here was dominant. But everybody who goes out there has a chance to keep us in the game," Tapani said.

Wednesday's victory also the Cubs nine games over .500 for the first time since 1995.

"We're just being cautious. We've said from day one of spring training we had a good club," Riggleman said. "We've played 45 games, which is a good chunk, but it's still early."

Tapani allowed two singles to Gary Sheffield and another to Raul Mondesi, striking out a season-high nine and walking two in his second shutout this season and ninth of his career.

"I've never seen Tapani pitch against us better than today," Dodgers manager Bill Russell said. "The Cubs are playing well and the main thing is their pitching."

Chicago finally came through in the sixth against Hideo Nomo (2-6) when Mickey Morandini's fly ball into the right field corner eluded Sheffield for a triple and Sammy Sosa hit a sacrifice fly.

Mark Grace singled, and Henry Rodrigueza 3-0 pitch just over the fence in right for a 3-0 lead, his 10th homer of the season.

The Cubs added two runs in the eighth off Brad Clontz on an RBI double by Jose Hernandez and a run-scoring single by Sandy Martinez.

Nomo had lasted just two-thirds of an inning against the Cubs on April 18 at Wrigley -- the shortest outing of his career -- when he gave up eight runs, three hits and five walks.

This time he made it through six-plus innings, giving up six hits. He struck out six and walked four.

"Take a look at the video," Nomo said. " I got hit. Maybe the lack of offense made me try a little too hard. Maybe there was a little pressure."

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