CHICAGO, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Sammy Sosa hit his 499th homer and Angel Echevarria drove in four runs Sunday as the Chicago Cubs completed a disappointing season with a 7-3 decision over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Prior to the game, the Cubs fired interim manager Bruce Kimm, who took over following the dismissal of Don Baylor on July 6. Kimm, however, was allowed to manage the team Sunday.
The Cubs began the season as a pennant contender after acquiring slugger Moises Alou and closer Antonio Alfonseca. With the addition of some young and talented players, Baylor seemed to have the right mix to contend in the competitive National League Central.
But the Cubs finished with with a 67-95 record, the fourth time in six years they lost at least 90 games.
The fans at Wrigley Field came to see Sosa, who needed two home runs to become the first player to hit 50 in five consecutive years and to become the 18th member of the 500-homer club.
Sosa belted a two-run homer off loser Josh Fogg (12-12) in the first inning, but it was his only hit in three at bats. Sosa struck out in the third, walked in the fifth, and struck out in the seventh.
Echevarria had a two-run double in the fifth inning and a two-run single in the seventh that increased the lead to 7-1.
Kerry Wood (12-11) was the winner, allowing one run and four hits in six innings, including a solo homer to Aramis Ramirez in the second.
Tony Alvarez of the Pirates hit a solo homer in the eighth off Joe Borowski.
Pittsburgh finished with a 73-88 record, winning 11 more games than a year ago.
