Twins 8, Cubs 1

Lee returns, but Cubs still lose

The Associated Press
Published June 25, 2006, 4:00 PM CDT

MINNEAPOLIS -- Brad Radke threw seven shutout innings to spoil Derrek Lee's return from two months on the disabled list, and the Minnesota Twins capped a three-game sweep of the Cubs with an 8-1 victory Sunday.

Radke (6-7) continued a strong June, scattering seven hits and striking out six. Torii Hunter and Luis Rodriguez homered for the streaking Twins, who have won four in a row and 14 of 16.

Sean Marshall (4-6) lasted just 4 2/3 innings for the Cubs, but he didn't get much help from his offense or defense.

The Cubs committed three errors and misplayed two other balls in the field. After getting shut out Saturday, they didn't score until the ninth inning in this one and lost for the 10th time in 12 games.

Lee, who hit .335 with 46 home runs and 107 RBIs in 2005, missed 59 games after breaking his wrist in a collision with the Dodgers' Rafael Furcal on April 19. The Cubs went 9-5 with Lee in the lineup, but were just 19-40 without him.

The plan was for Lee to play two games at Triple-A Iowa before joining the club on Monday. But after Freddie Bynum and Tony Womack were injured Saturday night, Lee made the four-hour drive from Des Moines to Minneapolis after going 1-for-4 with an RBI single in his lone rehab appearance on Saturday night.

Lee got a raucous ovation from thousands of Cubs fans in attendance when he stepped to the plate in the first inning Sunday.

After Juan Pierre and Todd Walker opened the game with singles, it was exactly what manager Dusty Baker has been desperately waiting for -- an offensive opportunity with his star slugger at the plate.

But Lee struck out swinging and Phil Nevin bounced into a double play. Lee went 1-for-4 with a single and two strikeouts.

The Cubs had runners on first and second with one out in each of the first three innings, but couldn't score. After going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position in Saturday night's 3-0 loss, they were 2-for-11 on Sunday.

While the Cubs failed time and again to capitalize on their opportunities, the Twins took advantage right from the get-go.

After Justin Morneau walked with one out in the second, Hunter hit a screamer to left field that one-hopped Matt Murton. He bobbled the ball, allowing Morneau to reach third and Hunter second.

Ruben Sierra followed with a broken-bat single to give the Twins a 2-0 lead.

The Twins had four straight singles in the third inning, but a throwing error by Jacque Jones in right field helped two runners move up a base. First baseman Nevin and second baseman Walker let Morneau's single squeak through the infield, scoring Mike Redmond.

Shortstop Neifi Perez then bobbled a groundball from Hunter to eliminate any chance of an inning-ending double play, and Michael Cuddyer scored on the fielder's choice to make it 5-0.

Marshall allowed five runs -- four earned -- and six hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

A throwing error by Perez in the sixth allowed Sierra to score and make it 6-0. Hunter's 11th homer of the season, off Bob Howry in the seventh, made it 7-0.

Rodriguez hit a solo shot in the eighth off Ryan Dempster.

Henry Blanco had an RBI single in the ninth for the Cubs' only run.

Notes: Before the game, the Twins posthumously inducted 1965 AL MVP Zoilo Versalles into the team's Hall of Fame. ... Womack left Saturday night's game with back spasms. Baker said he was feeling better on Sunday and is still day to day. ... Twins SS Jason Bartlett went 0-for-4, ending his career-high 10-game hitting streak.