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The Chicago Cubs
finally got their offense going on Monday.
They'll look to stay hot at the plate when they open a three-game series with
the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cubs managed just seven runs in the first three games of their series with St. Louis, but closed out the series with a 7-3 win on Monday.
Sammy Sosa, Todd Walker and Derrek Lee all homered for Chicago, which entered the day with 37 home runs -- third in the league.
``It wasn't a good first month,'' said Lee, who hit .233 with two homers in April, ``but I have to go out there and keep playing. You've got to believe it's going to happen and keep going out there and battling.''
The Cubs won six straight games earlier in April, outscoring opponents 39-5.
However, they have managed just 19 runs in their last seven games, winning four.
Sosa's homer was his sixth of the season and 545th of his career. He is three shy of Mike Schmidt for ninth on the all-time list.
Sosa also doubled and got his only RBIs of the series.
``I've got to fight for my stuff. It's always been like that,'' he said.
The Diamondbacks lost 6-5 in 14 innings to Philadelphia on Sunday for their third defeat in four games following a three-game winning streak.
Reliever Oscar Villarreal allowed two runs in the 14th, including the winning run on a bases-loaded walk.
``Oscar didn't lose that game today,'' said Matt Mantei, who gave up a game-tying two-run homer to Pat Burrell. ``I lost it in the ninth for us. It's ridiculous.''
Mantei has blown three saves and has allowed five ninth-inning homers.
``I just need to
pitch and get back out there and try to redeem myself again,'' he said. ``I
don't understand this. I don't deserve to be on that field right now.''
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