Cubs lose 5th straight

The Associated Press
Published May 27, 2006, 3:20 PM CDT

Horacio Ramirez made his second start of the season a strong one, allowing seven hits and a run over seven innings Saturday to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 2-1 win over the free-falling Cubs.

Atlanta's Marcus Giles hit a two-run double in the second inning for all the scoring Ramirez would need.

Ramirez (1-0), who hurt his left hamstring running out a bunt single in his season debut April 4 at Los Angeles, didn't appear rusty after a long layoff. He made four rehab starts before coming off the disabled list prior to Saturday's game.

The Cubs put runners on first and second with two outs in the ninth, before Mike Remlinger got Ronny Cedeno to bounce back to the mound for the final out. It Remlinger's second save in four chances.

Atlanta's victory was the Braves' 12th in their last 16 games. A crowd of 41,526, largest of the season at Wrigley Field, watched as the Cubs lost for the 20th time in their last 24.

The Cubs scored in the first with some small ball as Juan Pierre led off with an infield single, stole second, moved up on a sacrifice and scored on Todd Walker's RBI grounder. But then their offense dried up again.

The Braves went ahead with two in the second off Sean Marshall as Brayan Pena walked and Ramirez singled, making him 3-for-3 on the season at that point.

Both scored on Giles' double to left center, Ramirez crossing easily when shortstop Cedeno couldn't come up with Matt Murton's short-hop relay. The Cubs lost Friday's game when second baseman Neifi Perez jumped for a relay throw from Jacque Jones on a sacrifice fly, dropped it and then overthrew the plate.

Ramirez gave up singles to the first two hitters in the fourth but raced to the bag to cover first on a nifty 3-6-1 double play. He also made a nice play at the bag in the seventh on Jones' grounder to first after Murton doubled. He then escaped the inning when Cedeno flied to right. Ramirez had no walks and two strikeouts in his seven innings.

Tony Womack had a pinch-hit single to start the Cubs' eighth and reached second on a sacrifice against Ken Ray. But pinch-hitter John Mabry flied out before Walker lined out to end the inning.

Marshall (3-3) lasted six innings, giving up seven hits and two runs with two strikeouts and two walks.

Notes: Cubs RHP Mark Prior will make the first of at least three rehab starts on Monday at Class A Peoria. Prior, recovering from a sore shoulder, threw 30 pitches on the side at Wrigley Field on Saturday. ... The Braves put C Brian McCann on the disabled list retroactive to May 24 to make room for Ramirez on the roster. McCann has a sprained left ankle. ... It was the biggest crowd at Wrigley since 41,052 showed up for a doubleheader against the Reds on July 22, 1979.