Citizen Staff Writer
RIVERA COLUMN

STEVE RIVERA

Citizen Sportswriter

CHICAGO – Arizona coach Lute Olson said he recruited Houston native Nic Wise because he’s a proven winner.

Interim head coach Kevin O’Neill echoes that sentiment and more.

“Nic is an energy guy,” O’Neill said. “And defensively he’s been really good.”

Saturday proved just that, as the sophomore came off the bench to help No. 22-ranked Arizona down Illinois 78-72 in overtime at the United Center.

Wise, the smallest player on the court at 5 foot 10, had a big impact in a game that saw Arizona stars Chase Budinger and Jerryd Bayless struggle until late in regulation.

In 35 minutes, Wise had 11 points, eight assists, four rebounds, three steals and just one turnover.

He also made the defensive stop of the game when he tipped and stole the ball from Illinois guard Chester Frazier with 0:02 left and the score tied at 61 in regulation. Wise then caught a break when an official ignored his apparent signal for a timeout UA did not have.

“A lot of times people think (short) guys are a liability because they are short, but I don’t,” O’Neill said. “In the time I’ve known him, Nic plays really hard. He wants to get better, and he wants to win. He’s a very big part of our team.”

Wise will continue to come off the bench, adding a spark and spunk to a lineup that has needed it after some poor starts, including Saturday’s, when UA trailed Illinois 12-0.

“I don’t know what the hell is going on with us,” O’Neill said. “But we’re down all the time. We’ve got to cure that.”

The cure might be Wise, who has shown enough poise to settle the team down in tough spots.

“We need Nic,” said Bayless, UA’s starting guard. “Nic comes off the bench and gives us a boost. He makes plays for us.”

Wise nailed a three-pointer to tie the score at 16 and later added a driving layup, a jump shot and free throws in the second half to help rally the Cats.

“He’s done a wonderful job of energizing us,” O’Neill said. “He settles us (down).”

That may be the most notable thing about Wise, outside of the obvious 25-pound drop in weight from a season ago.

“He’s a leader,” said guard Jawann McClellan. “He’s more vocal than Staf (Mustafa Shakur) was at the same stage. Staf grew up and became a leader, but Nic has been a good vocal leader.”

Wise has said most of his confidence comes from the coaching staff, although O’Neill wouldn’t have been happy had the guard been flagged with a technical for calling a timeout late in regulation.

After stripping the ball from Frazier, Wise appeared to look to referee Kevin Mathis for a timeout, but wasn’t given one.

“I was going to (ask for time), but I pulled back,” Wise said. “I knew we didn’t have any timeouts, so . . . I pulled back.”

Said O’Neill: “That would have been grounds for murder.”

Illinois coach Bruce Weber protested to referees, but later said, “It would have been a tough call. I would have felt bad for the kid.”

Wise has said, “I hate to lose.”

In Houston, his Kingwood High team won 85 percent of its games (131-23) for the most wins in Texas Class 5A history over four years.

“When I was younger I’d cry when I lost,” Wise said. “I always remember that. So when I play, I always play my hardest.”

He’s grown out of crying after a defeat. Now, it’s just a sense of disappointment.

“When you lose, it messes with your schooling and daily life,” he said. “So it’s always good to go out and play hard.”

Budinger said Wise is playing with “more tenacity.”

“He’s really in there pestering their guards,” Budinger said. “He’s worked into coach O’Neill’s philosophy of defense. (On Saturday) he was feeling it because he really took over.”

It’s a quality O’Neill, the players and Wildcats fans want to see more of this season.

Steve Rivera’s e-mail: srivera@tucsoncitizen.com

BY THE NUMBERS

3: Rebound edge (33-30) for UA, despite having a smaller lineup against Illinois

23: Points by Jordan Hill, a career high; he also had 14 rebounds

25: Free throws made by UA in 32 attempts; Illinois was 10 of 22

AT THE WATER COOLER

Each Monday, Sportswriter Steve Rivera will throw out topics being discussed in the community. Go to Page 2C for the feature’s debut.

UP NEXT

Sunday: Fresno State (5-4) at No. 22 Arizona (6-2), 1 p.m., McKale Center TV: FSNA Radio: 1290 AM, 107.5 FM, 990 AM (Spanish)

INSIDE

• UA gets revenge against Illini, 6C

• Top 25 roundup, 6C

The Arizona Republic

NICK PIECORO

The Arizona Republic

CHICAGO – When the offense slumped in the season’s first half, the Arizona Diamondbacks kept their heads above water by riding their pitching and getting just enough timely hits.

They seemed on the verge of drowning in recent weeks, but outfielder Eric Byrnes believes they may found a reprieve with their 3-0 win Sunday over the Chicago Cubs.

“It lets us know we’re still in it,” Byrnes said. “Things were starting to get out of hand rather quickly and we needed to put a stop to it. To get two wins in Chicago against a team that has been playing so well says a lot about the character of this team.”

The Cubs had won 19 of 24 entering Saturday, but the Diamondbacks reverted to form, getting stellar pitching from their bullpen on Saturday and from rookie Yusmeiro Petit on Sunday while eking out just enough offense in both games.

The series victory leaves them with a slightly less bitter taste in their mouths at the conclusion of a 3-4 road trip.

Petit, making his third start since moving into the rotation in place of Randy Johnson at the beginning of the month, allowed just three hits in six scoreless innings.

Sixty-one of Petit’s 89 pitches were for strikes as the soft-tossing right-hander worked ahead in the count most of time and did not issue a walk.

“He’s a lot like a young Livan (Hernandez),” said catcher Chris Snyder, who homered in the seventh inning as the Diamondbacks stretched a 1-0 game to 3-0. “He’s going to mix his pitches, throw any pitch at any time, and he’s a guy who got to locate. When he’s locating, he’s fine.”

He was better than fine, retiring 12 of 13 during a stretch from the first inning through the fourth, then not allowing a hit to the final eight batters he faced.

Petit was hit by a Ryan Theriot line drive on the inside of his left wrist at the end of the third inning.

Manager Bob Melvin said it bothered the right-hander in his final two innings of work and was one reason Melvin removed Petit from the game when he did.

“It wasn’t too bad throwing the ball, but it (hurt) catching,” Petit said through interpreter/catcher Miguel Montero.

Melvin said Petit likely broke a blood vessel, not a bone, and X-rays weren’t in the plans.

The Diamondbacks had seven hits and drew six walks but managed just three runs, going 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position.

His team moved within 3 1/2 games of the first-placeDodgers, but Melvin acknowledged that although the offense didn’t cost the team Sunday, an improvement is needed.

“We still had more opportunities today and at some point in time we’ve got to break out and score multiple runs,” he said. “We peck away for one here, one there, it still puts a lot of pressure on the pitchers. Yet it seemed like on the whole our at-bats were better today.”

D’BACKS UP NEXT

Florida (Willis 7-9) at Arizona (Davis 6-10), 6:40 p.m. Monday. TV: FSNA. Radio: 1490-AM

• D’backs box score, 3C

The Associated Press

The Associated Press

CHICAGO – Pro Bowl linebacker and ex-Arizona Wildcat Lance Briggs reiterated Tuesday that he will not play another down for the Chicago Bears and is ready to sit out next season after they designated him as their franchise player.

“There are a lot of different options, a lot of different decisions, that could happen as the season comes closer,” Briggs told ESPN. “But that’s one of those options.”

That came a day after he told Foxsports.com: “I’ve played my last snap for them. I’ll never play another down for Chicago again.”

Briggs first revealed his feelings last week when he told ESPN.com the team should remove the label or trade him and then informed a Chicago radio station he would do “everything that’s within my power” to leave the Bears.

The franchise tag guarantees Briggs $7.206 million next season – the average of the top five salaries for players at his position – but it also deters other teams from signing him. The Bears could match any offer for Briggs or receive two No. 1 draft picks. If he sits out next season, the Bears could use the franchise tag again.

A third-round draft pick in 2003, Briggs earned $721,600 in the final season of his first NFL contract after he reportedly rejected a six-year, $33 million offer last spring. He told ESPN the deal was for seven years, and he turned it down because it was “below market value.”

Briggs led the team with 117 solo tackles – 24 more than six-time Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher – and the Bears reached the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1985 team won it all.

Citizen Staff Report

With the Saints down 16-14 and the ball on their 5 in the third quarter, ex-Arizona Wildcat and Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs (right) rushed New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, who was called for intentional grounding in the end zone. That resulted in a safety that made it 18-14. Chicago rolled from there.

The Associated Press

The Associated Press

CHICAGO – Leandro Barbosa couldn’t remember making a shot like it, not in the NBA, anyway.

He took a pass from Boris Diaw, buried a 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left and the Phoenix Suns pulled out a 97-96 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.

“They (showed) a lot of confidence in me; this was my biggest shot since playing for Brazil,” said Barbosa, a member of the Brazilian national team since 2002.

Ben Gordon gave the Bulls a 96-94 lead by hitting two free throws with 5.2 seconds left.

The Suns decided to go for the win, and after a timeout, Diaw caught the inbound pass near the right block.

Steve Nash set a pick on Gordon, and Barbosa caught Diaw’s pass near the top of the key and buried the winning shot.

“He went under the pick, so I had space to jump and shoot,” Barbosa said.

It was a costly mistake by the Bulls.

“It was as simple as it gets,” Chicago coach Scott Skiles said. “It relies on us falling for it and we did. We went inside the 3-point line instead of staying outside. We hustled back out, and they hit a good shot. It’s a mistake we can’t make right there.”

Gordon said Barbosa deserves credit for making the basket.

“I went out and challenged him, but he made a hell of a shot,” Gordon said.

It was a bitter ending for the Bulls, who got a career-high 41 points from Gordon and led by as many as 16 in the first half. Chicago, which had won 16 of 19 and had a chance to move into the Eastern Conference lead, was ahead by 10 going into the fourth quarter.

It was down to one – 84-83 – after Barbosa hit two foul shots with 3:33 left. Gordon, who scored the Bulls’ final 12 points, made it 92-87 on a pair of free throws with 1:37 remaining. But Amaré Stoudemire’s basket and Diaw’s 3-pointer tied it with 1:07 left.

Gordon then hit a jumper, but Stoudemire tied it again on a tip-in with 21.5 seconds left. Gordon got fouled by Nash on a jumper and hit both free throws before Barbosa answered.

“Yes, they are that good,” Gordon said. “They’re not 22-8 for no reason. They are a dynamic offensive team, and they just showed you what they can do in pressure situations.”

Gordon missed a long 3-pointer at the buzzer, one that Barbosa tipped.

Barbosa finished with 20 points, while Stoudemire led the Suns with 24 points and 18 rebounds. Shawn Marion scored 22. Nash had 11 points and 13 assists.

“This was a tough fight for us,” Stoudemire said. “The Bulls came out and played great basketball.”

Gordon, who scored 40 against Miami on Dec. 27, was 13 of 25 from the field and 13 for 14 from the foul line.

It was his ninth consecutive game with at least 20 points.

Luol Deng had an impressive outing, finishing with 19 points and eight rebounds after scoring a career-high 32 in Saturday’s 103-96 win over Cleveland.

The Associated Press

CHICAGO – Former Arizona Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo would be interested in buying the Chicago Cubs if Tribune Co. puts his hometown franchise up for sale.

Colangelo, chairman of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and former controlling owner of both the Suns and Diamondbacks, said Wednesday he has held a “preliminary discussion” with unspecified other people who share his interest in buying the Cubs.

He declined to say whether he had spoken to Tribune Co. or the Cubs about his interest, but said, “You can speculate that.”

“If in fact the Cubs become available, and that’s a big if, I’ve stated that I would have great interest,” he told The Associated Press. “I’m just trying to keep my options open at this point, that’s all.”

- The Associated Press

The Arizona Republic

By BOB McMANAMAN

The Arizona Republic

CHICAGO – For a while Thursday, the Diamondbacks found themselves in a tie for first place in the National League West. They hadn’t been there since mid-June.

It didn’t last this time, either.

After streaking to a convincing 10-2 victory in the first game of a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs, Arizona suffered a 7-3 setback in the second game and split a four-game series at Wrigley Field.

Coupled with San Diego’s win over Atlanta, the Diamondbacks trail the first-place Padres by half a game entering the start of a nine-game homestand tonight against Houston.

“A lot of guys in here might be scoreboard watching, but I’m not,” Arizona catcher Johnny Estrada said. “If September 1st rolls around and we’re still a half-game or a game out or we’re in first place, then that’s the time to get excited. Right now, we’ve just got to take care of business on our end because there’s a lot of games to be played.”

The Diamondbacks just played 10 of them on the road, going 5-5. That’s not bad, but if they want to win the division, they’re probably going to have to go on a tear.

In the first game Thursday, the Diamondbacks staked starting pitcher Juan Cruz (4-6) to a 5-0 lead in the first inning as Luis Gonzalez hit a two-run homer, his 11th, and Stephen Drew added a two-run triple.

Chicago’s offense gained steam in the second game off Enrique Gonzalez (3-3). Left fielder Matt Murton tied a major league record with four doubles. He’s the first Cubs player to do that since Billy Williams in 1969.

The Arizona Republic

The Arizona Republic

CHICAGO – Cy Young candidate Brandon Webb could miss Saturday’s start in Phoenix against Roger Clemens and the visiting Houston Astros because of a sore right elbow.

But it doesn’t appear at this point that a trip to the disabled list is necessary.

Webb left the team Tuesday and returned to Phoenix for a magnetic resonance imaging exam, which showed no structural damage.

He threw a bullpen session Thursday at Chase Field, which went well, according to manager Bob Melvin. A decision on whether he pitches Saturday, however, won’t be made until today.

Webb, who is 12-4 with a 2.74 ERA, apparently began experiencing some stiffness in the elbow after the All-Star break. It returned after following his two most recent starts in Philadelphia and Chicago, though the team nor Webb made no mention of it publicly until Thursday.

“He’s a guy we’re not going to take any chances with,” Melvin said.

There’s still a chance Webb could pitch Saturday, but the D’backs may elect to proceed cautiously and recall a pitcher from Triple-A Tucson for a spot start. Webb could then take extra time and return to the rotation Monday, when a starter is needed because of Thursday’s doubleheader at Wrigley Field.

Candidates for promotion include right-handers Dustin Nippert (12-5, 5.05 ERA) and Edgar Gonzalez (2-5, 4.16). Nippert is slated to pitch for Tucson in New Orleans today. Two others include right-hander Micah Owings (7-0, 4.80) and lefty Mike Bacsik (11-0, 2.40), but neither is on the 40-man roster.

• D’backs split twin bill with Cubs, 5C

Tonight: Houston (Oswalt 8-7) at Arizona (Batista 9-5), 6:30. TV: FSNA

The Arizona Republic

By BOB McMANAMAN

The Arizona Republic

CHICAGO – Andy Green could have been curt. He could have been smug.

But when someone jokingly asked why he wasn’t part of the home run derby here on Monday when the Diamondbacks hit a club-record six homers at Wrigley Field, the 25th man on the roster played along.

“They pitched around me,” he said, forcing a smile.

Yeah, all the way around to the bench, which is where the utilityman has been parked for several weeks. It didn’t get easier for Green as rain postponed Wednesday’s game. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader today at 10:05 a.m. FSN Arizona will air both games.

But there have been bright spots. On Tuesday, Green got into the game as a pinch hitter and hit a two-run double.

“You just have to make the best of the situation because this is what it is,” said Green, who was hitting .217 (15 for 69). “You can’t candy coat it. I’m getting tough at-bats when I get them, and I’m not getting many of them. But I’ll do the absolute best I can, stay positive and do what I can to help the team win.”

Manager Bob Melvin is struggling to get other players in the lineup, too, namely outfielders Jeff DaVanon and rookie sensation Carlos Quentin. And when Tony Clark and Craig Counsell come off the disabled list, it could get even trickier to find Green playing time.

Brick house

After smacking hard into the outfield wall here Tuesday, nearly injuring his back, Diamondbacks center fielder Eric Byrnes said someone should put padding beneath the ivy covering the Wrigley Field fences. “Stupid traditionalists,” he said.

Melvin was just glad his outfielder was OK.

“When he didn’t go down after a few seconds, you realize he’s going to make it through it,” Melvin said. “That’s a dangerous wall out there, but I don’t think there’s ever been an instance when Eric’s thought about impending doom because of the fence.

“He just goes all out and picks up the pieces to see if all the limbs are still attached and keeps playing the game. That’s just the way he is.”

The flip side

The D’backs entered Wednesday a game out of first place in the National League West, but there’s a Plan B if they don’t win their first division crown since 2002.

That’s because they were also a game behind NL wild card leader Cincinnati when the day began and held a three-game lead over Colorado in that race.

“You always look to win your division. That’s the focus right now,” Melvin said. “But absolutely, you have your eyes on the whole thing.”

Short hops

• Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood has decided against having surgery to repair his injured right shoulder. Wood made four starts this season following shoulder surgery on Aug. 31 and will miss the rest of the year with a partially torn rotator cuff. He hopes to come back next season as a reliever.

• After two days of playing catch to test his sore right shoulder, Clark took a day off. It will be at least two more weeks before he is cleared to begin full activity or start a minor league rehab assignment.

The Arizona Republic

By BOB McMANAMAN

The Arizona Republic

CHICAGO – When asked before Tuesday’s game against the Cubs what the Diamondbacks planned to do for an encore after hitting a club-record six home runs the night before, manager Bob Melvin had an immediate answer.

“Do it again,” he said, shrugging his shoulders as if to ask, “Why not?”

It almost happened, but it was the Cubs who were swinging the lumber as if they were madmen, not the Diamondbacks, as Arizona fell 9-3 in front of 38,970 at Wrigley Field.

Chicago hit four home runs in support of left-hander Rich Hill, who earned his first major league victory in his 10th career start.

Hill (1-4) worked eight innings and allowed three runs on six hits a day after Arizona scored a season-high 15 runs off Mark Prior and three relievers.

Shortstop Cesar Izturis made his Cubs debut after being acquired from the Dodgers in the Greg Maddux trade and went 2 for 4. He scored Chicago’s first run when Aramis Ramirez hit his 25th homer in the first inning off Claudio Vargas (8-8) for a 2-0 lead.

Vargas would give up two more blasts, a solo shot to catcher Michael Barrett in the third, and a two-out, two-run homer to left fielder Matt Murton later in the inning.

Vargas has allowed 20 homers on the year, six more than the next-closest pitcher in the rotation, Miguel Batista.

“They got some pitches elevated, got them in the air, and they put it to us today,” Melvin said.

Vargas allowed seven earned runs in four innings, and now has lost four of his past five starts. The homers, he said, are weighing on him.

“Yeah, I don’t know what I have to do,” he said. “I pitch one game with no homers and I see a lot of guys miss the pitch and they get a fly ball, foul, and now I can’t miss there.”

Trailing 7-0 in the fifth, the Diamondbacks finally got to Hill after Chad Tracy drew a leadoff walk, Orlando Hudson hit a one-out single up the middle, and pinch-hitter Andy Green followed with a two-run double.

But the Cubs weren’t done going deep. Jacque Jones hit a two-run homer off Brandon Medders in the bottom of the fifth to make it 9-2. Eric Byrnes closed out the scoring, hitting his team-leading 16th homer for the Diamondbacks in the eighth.

The Cubs, who reached the 2 million attendance mark for the 18th straight full season, had lost eight of their past nine to Arizona. Leave it to Hill, who was 0-6 in his previous nine starts, to give the Cubs’ faithful a reason to stick around and cheer.

“He’s good. He’s got good stuff,” Byrnes said. “We knew that. We knew he hadn’t had a lot of success at the big league level, but we know he had good stuff and he went out there and threw strikes.”

NOTES

It’s rarely shortsleeves weather for D’back duo

The Arizona Republic

CHICAGO – Eric Byrnes and Orlando Hudson stick out in a crowd, and not just Tuesday when, unlike all their Diamondbacks teammates, the two wore long black sleeves under their uniform tops on another unbearably hot day at Wrigley Field.

Then again, they’re a little different from most.

Byrnes plays like a human crash-test dummy in center field and often wears his heart on his sleeve. Hudson talks a mile a minute, makes everyone smile, and turns heads with his impeccable defensive abilities.

A day after manager Bob Melvin talked about what they mean to the team, Byrnes delivered a masterful game in a victory at Houston, and Hudson followed with a dandy of his own here in the series opener against the Cubs on Monday.

Byrnes hit a three-run, game-tying homer against the Astros and then preserved the win with a great running basket catch before running into the outfield wall.

“That’s the one thing I can guarantee I’m going to bring to the table every night,” Byrnes said of his energy. “All the other stuff sometimes is a mystery, but the effort’s going to be there.”

On Monday, Hudson became the third Arizona player to hit a home run from each side of the plate, including his first career grand slam, and made an array of top-notch plays at second base.

“Very productive, no question,” Melvin said of the two. “And ‘O’ (Hudson) – really for the better part of the last month and a half – has been an offensive force for us.

“When you have a guy like that at the bottom of the order who can drive in runs and as a switch hitter, knowing you’re going to get your matchup, we feel we have a chance to score every inning.”

Short hops

• Left fielder Luis Gonzalez extended his season-high hitting streak to 12 games with a first-inning double Tuesday, leaving him one double shy of tying Lou Gehrig for 26th on the all-time list with 534.

• Shortstop Craig Counsell was re-examined and his right rib fracture is healing on schedule, according to Melvin, who said it’s still too early to know when Counsell will be ready to resume baseball activity.

“I know he’s champing at the bit,” Melvin said. “We’ll see when we get home and then we’ll have a little bit better idea.”

The Arizona Republic

By BOB McMANAMAN

The Arizona Republic

CHICAGO – The Arizona Diamondbacks made baseballs leave the yard at a dizzying pace with a club-record six home runs in a 15-4 win over the Cubs in front of 39,226.

The previous record was five homers in a game, set 10 times – the last a year ago on the same day, also at Wrigley.

“We don’t really classify as a home-run hitting team,” manager Bob Melvin said, “but we squared some balls up and it was a good day to get the ball up in the air out there. It was nice and warm and the wind was blowing out a little bit.”

Second baseman Orlando Hudson led the long-ball assault, hitting his first career grand slam in the third inning off Mark Prior (0-5) after solo homers by Shawn Green and Chad Tracy.

That staked Brandon Webb (12-4) to a 6-1 lead, but it was just the beginning.

After Eric Byrnes hit a solo homer in the sixth off reliever Glendon Rusch, Hudson became the third hitter in Arizona history to homer from both sides of the plate when, batting right-handed against the lefty Rusch in the seventh, he drove a 2-0 pitch to the seats in left.

The six RBIs set a career high for Hudson. He has 11 homers on the year, one shy of his career high.

“That’s not my game,” Hudson said. “I’m just trying to put the ball in play and get on base for other guys. . . . That’s not something you’re going to see all the time from me.”

Rookie shortstop Stephen Drew hit the sixth and final homer for Arizona right after Hudson’s second blast. The solo shot by Drew off Rusch was his first in the majors, and it gives the Diamondbacks 33 homers in their past 22 games.

Webb, who improved to 6-0 against the National League Central, allowed one home run, a two-run shot by Aramis Ramirez in the third.

The searing heat – it was 98 degrees at game time – coupled with rising humidity, sapped a lot of players, Webb included.

He went seven innings, allowing four earned runs off eight hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

Melvin said he thought his ace might last only five innings.

But Webb soaked his head with iced towels between innings and stayed the course.

With a dozen victories and an ERA at 2.74, Webb remains a strong candidate for the NL Cy Young Award.

“Yeah, if I keep throwing the way I’m throwing and get the wins,” Webb said. “My ERA has been pretty excellent. I wouldn’t see any reason why not.”

D’BACKS NOTES

Gonzalez pleased to remain a D’back

By BOB McMANAMAN

The Arizona Republic

CHICAGO – Luis Gonzalez gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a list of teams he would agree to be traded to if the right situation came along, and everything could be worked out on the contract end of things for next season.

But moving Gonzalez by Monday’s nonwaiver trading deadline was a long shot at best, and he knew it.

“I didn’t want to go anywhere anyway,” the popular left fielder said. “We’re in the middle of a playoff race here, and I want to be part of the puzzle by helping the team win.”

Gonzalez, in his eighth and possibly final season with Arizona, has been swinging a hot bat since the All-Star break, hitting safely in 16 of his past 17 games. He extended his season-best hitting streak to 11 games Monday with a first-inning double off the Cubs’ Mark Prior.

That gave him 531 doubles for his career, moving him past Cubs Hall of Famer Cap Anson and into sole possession of 27th place. Up next is the legendary Lou Gehrig, who retired with 534 doubles.

Gonzalez has passed a slew of big names on the all-time doubles list and has each of the milestone balls for safekeeping. He entered Monday’s game tied for the National League lead with 35.

“That’s been kind of more of my game anyway,” he said. “I mean, there was the one year (in 2001) I hit 57 (home runs), but this is more of who I am.”

Quentin gets plunked

After getting hit by a pitch 103 times in three minor league seasons, rookie outfielder Carlos Quentin picked up his first plunking in the majors during the pivotal eighth inning in Arizona’s 7-6 victory at Houston on Sunday.

The Associated Press

CHICAGO – Orlando Hudson hit home runs from both sides of the plate, including his first career grand slam, as the Arizona Diamondbacks hit a team-record six homers Monday night in a 15-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

Rookie Stephen Drew hit his first career home run, and Shawn Green, Chad Tracy and Eric Byrnes also went deep for the Diamondbacks, who had a season-high scoring total.

Hudson hits his grand slam left-handed with the bases loaded against Mark Prior (0-5) in the third inning, driving a 3-1 pitch just over the wall in left-center to make it 6-1. Hudson added a two-run shot from the right side in the seventh off Glendon Rusch. Drew, the No. 8 hitter, immediately followed with his homer to make it 10-3.

Prior also gave up solo homers to Green and Tracy.

- The Associated Press

• More D’backs, Page 3C

National Football League

Cards open training camp without top pick Leinart

FLAGSTAFF – Arizona Cardinals training camp opened Monday morning with about 1,000 people in attendance at Northern Arizona, but without the team’s first-round pick, quarterback Matt Leinart.

Neither side in the negotiations was talking Monday, but it’s believed the parties remain far apart on a contract for Leinart, the 10th overall pick.

- The Arizona Republic

• NFL roundup, Page 5C

Citizen Staff Report

Citizen Staff Report

Six errors against the first-place team isn’t going to get the job done.

The Arizona Heat (11-17) fell 10-5 to host Chicago on Sunday, giving the Bandits a four-game sweep of the National Pro Fastpitch series.

After jumping to a 5-0 lead after the top of the first inning, six errors did the Heat in. Chicago rallied by scoring six times in the third, then adding two runs in the fourth and single runs in the fifth and sixth.

Chicago (20-3) also had a shoddy defense, committing four errors. Three of Arizona’s first-inning runs were unearned.

Arizona’s Leslie Wolfe (4-5) took the loss, allowing six runs – four earned – in 2 1/3 innings. April Valdez yielded four runs in relief of Wolfe, but only one earned run in 3 2/3 innings.

Sierra Vista Buena High School grad Catalina Morris had two hits, including a triple, for the Heat.

Morris also scored the game’s first run after leading the contest off with a bunt single.

The Heat will be back in town for a four-game series Thursday through Sunday against Connecticut. Each game begins at 7 p.m. at Hi Corbett Field.

Citizen Staff Report

Citizen Staff Report

The Arizona Heat dropped their second straight game to first-place Chicago, falling 6-3 in a National Pro Fastpitch contest Friday night.

The visitors led 3-2 before Chicago scored four times in the bottom of the sixth.

The Bandits have won 12 games in a row.

Sierra Vista Buena High grad Catalina Morris drilled a two-run triple in the top of the sixth to give the Heat the one-run lead. She finished with two of the team’s three hits.

Leslie Wolfe took the loss for Arizona, going the distance and allowing six earned runs. She walked seven and struck out two.

Gina Oaks picked up the win, striking out three and walking one in seven innings.

The teams meet again at 5:05 tonight.

The Associated Press

CHICAGO – Former Arizona Wildcat and Canyon del Oro High star Brian Anderson of the Chicago White Sox dropped his appeal of a five-game suspension Wednesday for his role in the bench-clearing brawl in a game against the Chicago Cubs last month.

Anderson had an appeal hearing scheduled for Friday. Instead, he began serving his suspension against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.

“I think it’s just best to serve the suspension and get it over with,” Anderson said. Also in baseball:

• The Bush administration urged a federal judge to force two San Francisco Chronicle reporters to divulge who leaked them secret grand jury testimony of Barry Bonds and other athletes who took part in the government’s BALCO probe.

• Albert Pujols should be ready to come off the disabled list and play by Monday, when the St. Louis Cardinals face Cleveland at home.

• Chicago Cubs right-hander Kerry Wood, who has made just four starts following shoulder surgery, said he might not be able to pitch again this year. He experienced fatigue late in a 70-pitch simulated game in Cleveland.

- The Associated Press