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Sosa, Rangers finish interleague series with Cubs

Jun 21, 2007 - 12:32 PM Chicago Cubs (32-38) at Texas (27-44) 2:05 pm EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- One day after joining an exclusive club, Sammy Sosa will lead the Texas Rangers against his former club, the Chicago Cubs, in the rubber contest of a three-game set on Thursday afternoon.

Sosa hit his 600th career homer on Wednesday night to lead the Rangers past his Cubs, 7-3. The slugger was greeted by his teammates at the plate in an emotional moment after his milestone blast made him the fifth player to reach the 600 mark.

It was a ticket into a hallowed fraternity for Sosa, who joined Hank Aaron (755), Barry Bonds (748), Babe Ruth (714) and Willie Mays (660) as the only players in baseball history to have 600 or more blasts.

The Rangers will look to keep their good vibes going behind Vicente Padilla (3-8, 6.57 ERA), who benefited from stellar run support his last time out.

The righthander allowed six runs and 12 hits, while striking out five and not walking a batter, but picked up a 7-6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds last Friday. He has not hurled more than 5 1/3 frames in any of his last six outings.

He will be opposed by Cubs starter Ted Lilly (5-4, 3.69), who had one of his best outings of the season in his last start. The lefthander tossed eight solid innings, yielding one run and six hits, while striking out three and walking one Friday.

The Cubs, who have had a rocky start to the season, highlighted by poor pitching and clubhouse issues, now have won 10 of their last 17 games - despite a poor performance on Wednesday night.

It has been a different story for the Rangers, who have yet to turn their poor campaign around. Texas has lost five of its last nine games and is wallowing in last place in the American League West.