To Cubs, 4 Score Means Victory

CUBS 4 ASTROS 2

The Cubs' magic number is four.

For now, at least.

Their 4-2 victory Friday over the Houston Astros broke afour-game losing streak at Wrigley Field and ran their record to 43-5when they score at least four runs.

But the victory for Mike Harkey (3-0) must start a string ifthe Cubs hope to avoid hearing about the other kind of magic numbersoon.

"It was a nice win for us," said Ryne Sandberg, who was involvedin three of the four runs with his second home run in as many daysinto the teeth of a gusting wind, an RBI double in the fifth thatscored Doug Dascenzo and a run scored when Darryl Kile (2-7)wild-pitched him home.

"It's nice to get some runs up there, Mike Harkey pitched welland good relief pitching," Sandberg said.

The combination improved the Cubs' homestand mark to 5-4 withtwo games remaining.

"Today was hopefully the start of good things for us," managerJim Lefebvre said, repeating the refrain the Cubs continue to chant -that much baseball is yet to be played.

The Cubs are nine games behind the East-leading PittsburghPirates.

All the Cubs can hope to do is continue to win, which is whatHarkey has done since returning after the All-Star break from 15months of rehabilitation after shoulder surgery.

"My last three starts, my arm has felt really strong," he saidafter going seven innings and allowing just six hits and two runs ona day he admitted he did not have his best stuff.

"Today was a big plus for me because it stopped the four-gamelosing streak," he said. "But I think this was my best start becauseI didn't have my best stuff, and to win without it is a lot moregratifying.

"My first couple of starts I had trouble warming up, but nowit's been bouncing back really well. Before, I'd be worried I'd hitthe setback they (doctors) told me I might have. But hopefully Iwon't feel that until winter."

Doctors have told Harkey not to be surprised if he experiencesa setback because of the type of arthroscopic surgery he underwent inApril, 1991.

"But I think if I keep doing the things I've been doing, I cancut my chances," he said.

Harkey and relievers Jeff Robinson and Paul Assenmacher (seventhsave) gave the Astros few chances on a day cool temperatures and anortheast wind helped pitchers and chilled 31,838 fans.

The wind direction (from left to right field) influencedLefebvre's decision to lift Robinson in the eighth with a man on,despite his having retired two consecutive batters on comebackers tothe mound.

He brought in lefty Assenmacher to face Eric Anthony, butAstros manager Art Howe countered with pinch hitter Pete Incaviglia.

Assenmacher struck out Incaviglia and got out of potentialninth-inning trouble by retiring Scott Servais on a fly and JuanGuerrero on a grounder near second that shortstop Jose Vizcainoslickly fielded.

"I was happy it ended the game," said Vizcaino, whose heroicsincluded a second-inning RBI single that drove in Steve Buechele, whohad tripled.

The Astros' runs came in the first, when Craig Biggio reached ona Buechele error and scored on Steve Finley's double, and in thefourth, when Ken Caminiti tripled leading off the inning and scoredon Luis Gonzalez's single.

NOTES: Back problems have been the bane of the Cubs this season,so trainer John Fierro was quick to take precautionary X-rays Fridaywhen shortstop Rey Sanchez complained of tightness in his lower back.

The X-rays were negative, but Sanchez was held out of the lineupstill suffering stiffness. Fierro, however, said the problemprobably isn't serious. Fines are not part of Jim Lefebvre's managing style.

"I've never been big on fines because if you fine a guy formissing something like a sign, you should give him a bonus when he executes," he said.

"You have professionals at this level. I think when (Rick)Wilkins missed the (bunt) sign (Thursday), he realized it. You don'tneed to do anything more. He was only being aggressive." Shawn Boskie threw again Friday with no pain. He will throw againtomorrow. Kal Daniels, who was bothered by flu symptoms Thursday, was better,but Lefebvre rested him another day. Dwight Smith has become the National League's best pinch hitter. Hehas 13 hits in 45 pinch at-bats. In his career, he's 40 for-130 (.308) with two home runs and 26 RBI as a pinch hitter.Smith is sixth on the Cubs' all-time pinch-hit list. Four players -Thad Bosley, Larry Biittner, Phil Cavarretta and Bob Will - are tiedfor the Cubs' lead with 46. When Wilkins threw out Luis Gonzalez attempting to steal in thefourth inning, it was just the seventh time an Astros player had beencaught in the team's last 44 attempts. But the Astros got their100th theft of the season in the ninth when Casey Candaele stolesecond.