For one of the few times this season, the majority of blue seats at the Metrodome were filled with enough fans to call a quorum. If a vote were taken, Sammy Sosa probably would not have been allowed to leave the building.
A crowd of 36,688–a robust increase over the Twins’ meager 12,029 average–was on hand to see if Sosa could continue the hot second-half start that was predicted for him after trade rumors subsided.
Sosa didn’t disappoint, and neither did the rest of the Cubs. Every starter hit safely, ignited by Sosa’s 25th homer, in Saturday night’s 8-4 victory over Minnesota.
Taking two of three from the Twins gave the Cubs consecutive series victories for the first time this season. They won two of three from the White Sox before the All-Star break.
Sosa’s second homer in as many nights was the 361st of his career and tied him with Joe DiMaggio for 50th on the career list.
“Who?” Sosa replied when told he had tied DiMaggio. “Isn’t he the guy whose girlfriend was Marilyn Monroe?”
Now that the trade rumors have ceased, Sosa couldn’t be happier or more relaxed, a stark contrast from last month.
“I think no human being, no matter how tough you are, can play in the middle of a lot of distractions,” he said.
Kevin Tapani (6-7) gave up 12 hits in eight innings but didn’t walk a batter and escaped jams in the first and second innings.
In the second, second baseman Eric Young scooped up a ground ball and inexplicably tried to throw out Chad Allen, who easily moved from second to third base. But Tapani then struck out the side, getting two on called third strikes.
“That gave us a boost because at that point the game could have gone either way,” Tapani said.
Henry Rodriguez’s check-swing double over first base with the bases loaded in the third off Minnesota starter Joe Mays (4-11) put the Cubs up 4-1.
