Tapani's Granny, Pitching Lift Cubs

This was one home-run ball Kevin Tapani wanted to take home.

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Unfortunately for Tapani, two Atlanta fans refused to hand the ball over.

"No, they said they wouldn't give it up," Tapani said. "They wanted a flight to Chicago and free tickets to a Cubs game, or something like that."

The 34-year-old right-hander, who had only 17 previous career hits in the major leagues, will have to settle for the memory of ripping a pitch from Denny Neagle over the left-field wall in the fourth inning to give Chicago a 5-0 lead.

"That's the first one over the fence," said Tapani, who grew up in Escanaba, Mich. "We had a lot of snow, so there weren't a lot of chances."

It was the first grand slam by a Cubs pitcher since 1972, when Burt Hooton hit one against the New York Mets, and the first by a major league pitcher since 1996, when St. Louis' Donovan Osborne hit one against San Diego.

Tapani (11-6) went seven innings, giving up three runs and eight hits. He has won three of his last four decisions.

Neagle (10-8) lasted only four innings, giving up nine earned runs and eight hits in the worst outing by a Braves' starter since John Smoltz gave up nine earned runs in a June 19, 1994, loss to Cincinnati.

Neagle issued a career-high six walks, including one intentional, and gave up his most earned runs since 1994, when he played with Pittsburgh.

He said the most embarrassing part of surrendering the grand slam was the two walks he allowed befrehand.

"I should not have faced the pitcher in that inning," Neagle said. "He just jumped on the pitch. He was guessing. It was a freak outing, something you have to blow off. That's not the type game I think you're going to see out of me."

Chipper Jones hit a two-run homer for Atlanta, his 26th, and Andruw Jones added a solo shot for the Braves.

Jeff Blauser hit a three-run homer for the Cubs. It was only his second homer in 279 at-bats this year.

The Cubs, who swept a three-game series from the Braves at Wrigley Field in late May, won for only the second time in 11 tries at Turner Field.

Braves reliever Mark Wohlers continued to struggle in his comeback attempt.

He walked in two runs in the eighth, both on four straight balls. Wohlers now has given up four hits, five earned runs and six walks in 1 2-3 innings since being recalled from the minors on July 17. Wohlers has thrown 17 balls in his last 18 pitches and 19 in 24.

"He didn't have a good night," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "Yes, there's some concern there, I'll be honest. It has to get a lot better than it is."

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