Sutcliffe shuts out Expos to ease hurt

The Cubs and Rick Sutcliffe had everything to smile aboutyesterday after notching their first home victory of the season 7-0over the Montreal Expos.

Except Sutcliffe wasn't all smiles.

The family's pet dog, Rookie, a 7 1/2-year-old beagle, had diedthe night before after surgery.

"To be honest, it wasn't a very good night for my family,"Sutcliffe said after recording the four-hit shutout, his first sinceMay 26, 1986 against the Cincinnati Reds.

But it was a good day on the field for Sutcliffe (2-1), whodelighted the 23,023 fans not only with his pitching performance butwith a hitting and baserunning display that included three runsbatted in and a stolen base.

Sutcliffe's battery mate, Jody Davis, added the team's other punch, going 4-for-4 with two singles, a double anda two-run home run in the second inning that gave the Cubs a leadthey never relinquished.

Sutcliffe's mound opponent, Floyd Youmans (0-2), couldn't havehad a worse day. He lasted only 3 2/3 innings, but it was a remark he made to homeplate umpire Eric Gregg, not the Cubs, that caused his earlydeparture.

Youmans, 22, was thrown out when he made what Expos manager BuckRodgers said was "a remark about Gregg's weight that Gregg didn'tlike." The remark came after Davis scored from second on a single bySutcliffe in a close play at the plate.

Youmans was upset that Davis had reached on a double afterworking his way back from a 1-2 count and a pitch Youmans thoughtshould have been called strike three.

"The whole thing started on the 1-2 pitch to Davis," Rodgers said. "And I think Floyd was upset with himself for letting Sutcliffe geta hit."

Sutcliffe did more than that after Andy McGaffigan came in torelieve Youmans. He stole second on McGaffigan's second pitch, amove that caught manager Gene Michael by surprise.

"He wanted to be the manager for a minute," Michael said. "Helikes to do the extra things. I just don't want him getting hurt.But he likes that stuff."

Michael liked Sutcliffe's other stuff as well, calling hisperformance "outstanding."

"He used all his pitches and did everything you could do outthere," Michael said. "He used the whole plate."

Davis agreed. "He had a great changeup, a good curveball andslider, and I've always thought he had a good fastball," he said. "Hepicked his spots well and kept the hitters off balance.

"He did a good job today and maybe it'll get his confidencerolling."

It was a subdued Sutcliffe, though, who talked about his gameand his steal, the first by a Cub pitcher since Willie Hernandez didit Aug. 22, 1982.

"I thought about it and when Youmans got tossed out, I took someprecautions on the first step and made sure I got my feet plantedright," Sutcliffe said. "When they showed they weren't going to holdme on, then I've got to go.

"If I can't play this game hard, then I've got no business beinghere. It's fun to play the game hard.

"We had a tough time last night," he said, referring to his pet'sdeath. "Our family's not going to be able to get real excited aboutanything."