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Ramirez hits two-run double to cap Cubs rally

Jul 17, 2007 - 3:45 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Aramis Ramirez hit a two-out, two-run go-ahead double in the eighth inning as the Chicago Cubs continued their torrid play with a 3-2 victory over the Barry Bonds-less San Francisco Giants on Monday.

Trailing 2-1 in the eight, Ramirez hit a double off the ivy in left field to score Ryan Theriot and Derrek Lee as the Cubs won their fourth straight and 16 out of 20.

Bonds, who is mired in a career-worst 0-for-20 slump, was scratched from the lineup.

Theriot hit a two-out single off Kevin Correia (1-5) and a well-timed hit-and-run allowed Lee's ground ball to get past second baseman Ray Durham, putting runners on the corners for Ramirez.

"As a hitter, you look forward to situations like that," Ramirez said. "The guys in front of me did their job, I was lucky to do mine."

Closer Randy Messenger was brought in to face Ramirez, who, with Lee running on the pitch, drilled a 2-1 offering just off the lower part of the left field wall plating the go-ahead runs.

Messenger said Ramirez capitalized on his mistake.

"Ramirez went out and got it," Messenger said. "I tip my cap to him, sometimes you execute and sometimes you don't. What else can you say?"

The late comeback helped Rich Hill (6-6) pick up his first win since June 7. Hill threw eight solid innings, allowing two runs and four hits with three strikeouts.

"I am the type of guy who doesn't like to think too much out there," Hill said. "Over the break, I concentrated on just not thinking and trusting my stuff. I think it worked out pretty well tonight."

Bob Howry threw a scoreless ninth to record his sixth save in 10 tries for Chicago, which has the best record in baseball at 26-12 since June 3.

"The guys are really doing their jobs well," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "During this streak, we are doing all the little things you have to do to win ballgames."

With Bonds resting, Feliz picked up the slack by hitting his 13th homer of the season to left field off Hill to tie the game at 1-1 in the fifth.

Feliz also drew a leadoff walk from Hill in the eighth. After Feliz was sacrificed, Rodriguez hit an RBI single into left to give the Giants a 2-1 edge, but the bullpen could not hang on as the Giants lost their fifth straight.

Rookie Tim Lincecum and Hill engaged in a pitchers' duel with neither team getting a runner into scoring position until the seventh.

Lincecum, who had won his previous two starts, did his best to stop the Giants' skid. The 23-year-old allowed one run and two hits in 6 1/3 innings with eight strikeouts despite a season-high tying five walks.

"I feel like I'm catching a rhythm," said Lincecum, who has allowed just four earned runs in his last 28 1/3 innings.

"Things are falling into place, my change-up is getting better. I am throwing the ball with more consistently any time in any count."

Koyie Hill, who came into the game hitting just .148 (9-for-61), opened the scoring by blasting a solo homer to right field off Lincecum in the third.

"Hill was hitting a buck-fifty so I under estimated him a little and you can't do that at this level." Lincecum said. "I just threw him a beefy fastball and he put it in the seats."