Wood loses his cool and game

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Apr 18, 2004 | by ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHICAGO -- This time, it was Kerry Wood who lost his cool -- and it cost the Cubs the game.

A day after Chicago manager Dusty Baker's angry outburst resulted in his ejection, an irate Wood was tossed in the ninth inning after a heated confrontation with home plate umpire Eric Cooper over balls and strikes.

As Wood was steaming, the Cincinnati Reds rallied with two runs as Wily Mo Pena hit a go-ahead double for a 3-2 victory Saturday.

"I made a comment and off flies the mask and here we go," said Wood, who had two run-ins with Cooper in the ninth. "It is what it is, and you got adrenaline and all that stuff. There were a few pitches I thought didn't go my way. Unfortunately, I let it build up until the last inning."

Sean Casey singled and after Wood (2-1) walked Adam Dunn on a 3-2 pitch, Wood waved in disgust. Cooper then started toward the mound before Cubs catcher Michael Barrett got between the two.

After Cooper returned to the plate and Wood to the mound, Ryan Freel's bunt moved both runners up before Jason LaRue tied the game with a sacrifice fly. Pena then doubled in the go-ahead run as Baker came out to remove Wood.

As Wood was being taken out of the game, he sprinted to the plate and began screaming at Cooper before he was ejected.

Cardinals 8, Rockies 4

ST. LOUIS -- Scott Rolen homered on consecutive at-bats and had four RBIs, and Albert Pujols also connected as the Cardinals rallied from a three-run deficit to beat Colorado.

Rolen leads the major leagues with 23 RBIs.

St. Louis' Shawn Estes (2-1) entered with a 1.29 ERA and had been 2-0 for the first time since winning his first four decisions in 1997. He lasted 4 innings.

Phillies 6, Expos 3

PHILADELPHIA -- David Bell, Pat Burrell, Placido Polanco and Bobby Abreu homered to help Philadelphia hand Montreal its sixth straight loss.

Kevin Millwood (1-2) gave up three runs and seven hits in seven innings and struck out seven to win his fifth straight decision against Montreal.

Braves 4, Marlins 1

ATLANTA -- Chipper Jones homered for the second straight night, and Russ Ortiz outpitched Josh Beckett to lead the Braves over the World Series champions. Jesse Garcia added his first homer in more than four years, helping Atlanta move back over .500 at 6-5.

Ortiz (1-2) gave up one run and six hits in 6 innings, lowering his ERA from 6.75 to 4.50.

Pirates 2, Mets 1

NEW YORK -- Tike Redman doubled leading off the eighth inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jason Kendall as Pittsburgh edged New York.

Astros 14, Brewers 5

HOUSTON -- Richard Hidalgo hit a pair of two-run doubles and drove in four runs, and Houston beat Milwaukee for its sixth win in seven games.

Padres 3, Diamondbacks 2