Manager Gene Michael, who scratched catcher Jody Davis from the starting lineup Friday because he reported late to the ballpark for batting practice, commented on the veteran`s recent performance.
”Jody hasn`t done what he did last year and (backup) Jim Sundberg has done a good job,” Michael said. ”His loss of confidence in his hitting has been the big thing. He had a good start. In June he did nothing, and there`s no reason for that.”
Andre Dawson`s fifth-inning homer was his 28th of the year and the 30th of his career against the Phillies, the most he has hit against any one team.
The back-to-back homers by Dawson and Jerry Mumphrey in the fifth marked the sixth time the Cubs have done that this season. Mumphrey`s ninth homer tied his career high, established in 1982 and equaled in 1984.
Phillies outfielder Chris James enjoyed the first two-homer game of his career.
Phillies manager Lee Elia spent more than three years as a coach after being fired as the Cubs` manager in August, 1983.
”I`ve always had a desire to manage again. But it has never been a priority,” Elia said. ”I mean, I enjoyed being a coach. Baseball is my life. And I did learn a lot in the almost two years managing the Chicago ballclub. You know I have always felt very strongly about the people in the Chicago Cubs` organization. I felt bad when the day (of his firing) came. But you have to recognize that that is going to happen to everybody. I said then that if it ever was going to happen again–and this was the right situation–I wouldn`t mind having it one more time. And this turned out to be the right situation.” Phillies reliever Steve Bedrosian recorded his 30th save for a club record Friday. It was also his 100th career save.
David Martinez is hitting .328 in his last 65 starts.
”I`m seeing the ball well and I`m trying to hit the ball mostly to the opposite field,” said Martinez, who has led off a game twice this year with a homer. ”If I hit the ball the other way it makes me stay on it (the pitch). And if they throw inside, I can turn on it.”
Cubs coach John Vukovich turned 40 Friday, and Leon Durham celebrated his 30th birthday.
Durham said perhaps he has been singled out for criticism more than some of his teammates.
”At times I think I am, but I`m not going to dwell on it as far as letting it eat me up inside,” he said. ”My mother said only the strong survive and that`s what I have to do.”
