— Ryne Sandberg committed his first error on artificial turf in 74 games when he threw wide to shortstop Shawon Dunston on a double-play attempt in the fourth inning. Sandberg`s previous error had come July 2, 1985 in Philadelphia.
— Andre Dawson said his arthritic knees are holding up just fine this season. ”This is really amazing. I haven`t had to get them drained once yet. Usually, I have to get them drained three or four times a season, and at least once by spring training.”
— The Cubs plan to call up infielders Brian Guinn and Julio Valdez and pitcher Drew Hall to join Iowa-bound Lester Lancaster in Monday night`s exhibition game against the White Sox.
— Rookie outfielder David Martinez credits the encouragement and advice of veteran Keith Moreland for his hitting resurgence the past several weeks.
”Keith has had trouble getting hits to fall for him, but he`s had time for me, telling me to hang in there,” said Martinez. ”That really means a lot to me, and I appreciate that from a veteran player.”
— Ace reliever Lee Smith was available for action Sunday and earned his major league high 12th save after resting a sore back Saturday. ”I first hurt my back in San Diego, coming off the flat mound in their bullpen to a high mound on the field,” said Smith. ”But I`m ready to go now. Time to go to work. I`ve gotta buy milk for the baby.”
— Left-hander Mike Mason, acquired in a trade with Texas Saturday, reported to the Cubs Sunday and took over for starter Scott Sanderson in the third inning to earn his first win of the year. He was 0-2 at Texas. Sanderson left the game with a slight strain of his upper hamstring. ”This is like a fresh start for me,” said Mason, who had been optioned to the Rangers`
Triple-A Oklahoma City affiliate. ”I already know a lot of the guys on this club–Dickie Noles, Jim Sundberg, Ron Davis and (bullpen catcher) Glenn Brummer.”
— Cubs manager Gene Michael thinks the rules should be enforced more stringently regarding the use of scuffed baseballs by pitchers. Michael talked to the umpires before Saturday`s game about scuffed balls.
”If they don`t do something about it, it`s going to encourage everybody to cheat,” said Michael.
— Houston center-fielder Billy Hatcher, one of the top hitters in the league with a .333 average, is grateful the Astros gave him the opportunity to start that the Cubs didn`t.
”Anytime you have a manager and an organization that believe in you, it makes it easier for you to play. Coming over here to the Astros, they gave me a chance. They wanted speed in their lineup and I can give them that,”
said Hatcher, who was traded for veteran Jerry Mumphrey in December of 1985.
— Eight of the nine first-inning Cub hitters in Houston struck out.
— The Cubs returned to Chicago with their third winning trip of the season. They had only one last season.
— Probables for the Cincinnati series: Tuesday, Rick Sutcliffe (6-2) vs. Tom Browning (4-4); Wednesday, Greg Maddux (3-2) vs. Bill Gullickson (4-2);
Thursday, Jamie Moyer (3-3) vs. Ted Power (3-2).
