CHICAGO, June 5 (UPI) -- After scoring just 19 runs in the first eight games of the homestand, the Chicago Cubs took advantage of three errors in a seven-run third inning Thursday and rolled to an 8-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Sammy Sosa made this series a memorable one when he was ejected from Tuesday's opener for using a corked bat. Facing a lengthy suspension, Sosa snapped a three-for-20 slump with an RBI single in the first inning.
The Cubs broke open the game with seven runs in the third, five of which were unearned. Devil Rays third baseman Jason Smith, recalled from the minors when Damion Easley was released, committed a pair of throwing errors and Jason Tyner booted a ball in the left field corner.
Corey Patterson had a two-run triple and Alex Gonzalez and Ramon Martinez each had RBI doubles for the Cubs, who improved to 4-5 on a 12-game homestand that concludes against the New York Yankees.
Matt Clement (3-6), who had lost five straight decisions, pitched seven innings and allowed one run and seven hits to earn his first win since April 18.
Devil Rays rookie Dewon Brazelton (1-5) lasted 2 1/3 innings and yielded eight runs, although just three were earned, and eight hits.
