BC-BBN–Mets-Cubs, 1st Ld-Writethru,0405

Cubs 3, Mets 0

Eds: SUBS 4th graf to CORRECT to Hawkins, sted Borowski getting save

By NANCY ARMOUR

AP Sports Writer

CHICAGO (AP) – Kerry Wood struck out nine and allowed only four singles in seven innings, and Sammy Sosa backed him with a home run Saturday to give the Chicago Cubs a 3-0 victory over the New York Mets.

It was the Cubs’ fifth straight win, their longest streak of the year. They’ve allowed only four runs during the stretch, outscoring opponents 35-4. The Mets lost for the seventh time in nine games, and have scored only 12 runs in their last eight games.

Wood (3-1) walked two and hit one in his first scoreless outing of the season. He’s now 5-1 in eight career starts against the Mets.

Ramon Martinez and Aramis Ramirez also drove in runs for the Cubs, and LaTroy Hawkins got four outs – the last three against former AL hitters – for his first save of the year.

Tyler Yates (1-2) gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings, walking only one while striking out three.

Wood allowed only three runners in scoring position, and just one after the second inning. The closest the Mets came to threatening was in the sixth, when Kazuo Matsui got to third with only one out. But Wood quickly struck out Shane Spencer and Karim Garcia.

Wood also kept the Mets off base for almost three innings. Matsui led off the third with a single, but Wood caught him stealing and then retired his next eight batters. New York finally got on base again with Matsui’s leadoff single in the sixth.

Sosa gave Wood all the offense he needed in the first inning, homering off Yates on a 2-2 pitch. Though the wind was blowing in at 15 mph, Sosa knew the ball was gone almost as soon as it left his bat, doing his trademark home run hop.

The Cubs added a run in the second, and Yates was lucky they didn’t get more. With two outs, Yates gave up an RBI single to Martinez, a single to Wood and then walked Todd Walker to load the bases. But Yates escaped the jam when Corey Patterson grounded into a double play.

Notes: Cubs SS Alex Gonzalez was out of the lineup again with a sore right leg. … Cubs 2B Todd Walker was called out on interference in the fourth inning. … Mets 3B Ty Wigginton was released from a New York hospital Saturday after being treated for an ulcer.

AP-ES-04-24-04 1742EDT