Sosa Has Executive Clout With 30th Homer

Sammy Sosa hit his major league-leading 30th home run with President Clinton watching from a box behind home plate Wednesday at Wrigley Field.

The homer was Sosa’s fourth in as many games, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 5-4 victory over Milwaukee.

“He brings good luck,” Sosa said. “A big guy like that comes to town to see the game--it doesn’t look too good if we lost.”

Clinton, in Chicago to pitch his new Medicare proposal to senior citizens, was so excited about going to the game he announced it at the start of his speech--to the annoyance of the Secret Service.

Sosa presented Clinton with a Cub jacket and a Beanie Baby bear after the game, and the players and the president exchanged autographs.

Cincinnati 2, Arizona 0--The Diamondbacks’ Randy Johnson struck out 17, but Ron Villone and Scott Williamson combined on a one-hitter at Cincinnati as the Reds won for the ninth time in a row.

Tony Womack’s clean single with two outs in the sixth inning off Villone was Arizona’s only hit.

Johnson (9-5) struck out 14 on Friday but lost, 1-0, when St. Louis’ Jose Jimenez threw a no-hitter.

It was a similar story against the Reds, who scored on Dmitri Young’s homer and Jeffrey Hammonds’ run-scoring single.

Houston 11, St. Louis 3--The Cardinals’ Jose Jimenez, coming off a no-hitter in his last start, gave up singles to the first two batters he faced and the Astros went on to win at home.

Jimenez (4-8) was tagged for seven earned runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Cardinal rookie Joe McEwing singled in the eighth inning, extending his hitting streak to 21 games.

Jeff Bagwell hit his 25th home run for Houston.

Florida 4, New York 3--Mark Kotsay’s two-out homer in the bottom of the 10th inning gave the Marlins a victory in Miami.

Kotsay’s homer off Armondo Benitez (0-2) gave the Marlins only their fourth victory in their last 19 games.

Pittsburgh 9, Philadelphia 1--Al Martin and Brian Giles each drove in three runs during an eight-run fourth as the Pirates won at home.

The Phillies’ Chad Ogea (4-7) had his worst start of the season, exiting after 3 2/3 innings.

Jason Schmidt (8-5), trying for his first career shutout, blanked the Phillies until Bobby Abreu homered in the eighth.

Montreal 7, Atlanta 5--The Expos scored five runs in the eighth to defeat Atlanta in Montreal. It was Montreal’s second consecutive late-inning comeback victory over the division-leading Braves.

The Expos sent 10 batters to the plate in the eighth, highlighted by Orlando Cabrera’s two-run double. Ugueth Urbina pitched the ninth for his 17th save.