D-backs knock team-record six homers in blowout

CHICAGO (AP) -- Orlando Hudson said the hot and humid conditions at Wrigley Field on Monday night reminded him of his Darlington, S.C., upbringing.

"It was hot. It was hot like South Carolina hot," Hudson said. "It's the kind of weather I'm used to playing in every day at home in South Carolina."

The comfort showed as Hudson hit home runs from both sides of the plate, including his first career grand slam, as the Arizona Diamondbacks hit a team-record six homers in a 15-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

Elias Says
Hudson Orlando Hudson hit a grand slam off Mark Prior and a two-run homer off Glendon Rusch in the Diamondbacks' 15-4 win at Wrigley Field. Hudson was the first second baseman to hit home runs with runners on base from both sides of the plate in the same game since Steve Jeltz did so for the Phillies in 1989. • For more Elias Says, click here

Rookie Stephen Drew hit his first career home run, and Shawn Green, Chad Tracy and Eric Byrnes also went deep for the Diamondbacks, who had a season-high scoring total.

"I wouldn't classify us as a home run hitting team but we got some balls up," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "It was a good day to get the ball in the air, nice and warm with the wind blowing out a little bit."

The official temperature was 98 degrees at first pitch, though the grounds crew reported it was well over 100 degrees on the field.

Earlier in the day, the Cubs traded 327-game winner Greg Maddux to the Los Angeles Dodgers for shortstop Cesar Izturis and sent infielder Todd Walker to San Diego for a minor league pitcher. The Cubs plan to use Izturis at shortstop and move Ronny Cedeno to second.

Hudson homered left-handed with the bases loaded against Mark Prior (0-5) in the third inning, driving a 3-1 pitch just over the wall in left-center to make it 6-1. Hudson added a two-run shot from the right side in the seventh off Glendon Rusch. Drew, the No. 8 hitter, immediately followed with his homer to make it 10-3.

"I thought I missed it at first," Hudson said of his grand slam.

Prior also gave up solo homers to Green and Tracy. He lasted just five innings in his seventh start of the season, allowing six runs, six hits, and three walks while striking out five and hitting two batters.

The oft-injured Prior, who has made two trips to the disabled list this season, was terse when questioned about his struggles.

"I threw the ball good," Prior said in a quick exchange with the media. "I did exactly what I wanted to do, make them hit it to the big part of the ballpark. Unfortunately the wind was howling out tonight and I can't do much about it."

Byrnes had a long solo shot off Rusch and a two-run double off Will Ohman.

Rusch and Ohman gave up nine runs on eight hits and three walks in three innings. Ohman gave up five runs in the eighth.

"You hate to leave some guys out there like sacrificial lambs," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "But we had like four guys that absolutely couldn't pitch today. I wish Mark could have gotten farther in the game, but the wind was blowing out quite heavily. They got some balls out and we didn't."

While Prior wilted, Arizona ace Brandon Webb kept his team in the game by limiting the long ball.

Webb (12-4) surrendered a deep homer to Aramis Ramirez, giving up four runs and eight hits in seven innings. He tied Carlos Zambrano and Jason Marquis for the NL lead in victories and his NL-best ERA jumped slightly from 2.64 to 2.74.

"I tried to make it as quick as possible so I could get back to the dugout," said Webb, who threw 95 pitches.

Although there was some trade talk involving Maddux, the 40-year-old former Cy Young winner was a little shocked after being traded for the first time in his career.

"I am very surprised to be honest with you," he said. "It came down to the last minute. I'm excited to be going to L.A., but at the same time sad about leaving Chicago. I need to try to get right with my new team and try to pitch well for them."

The Diamondbacks, just 1½ games out of both the NL West and wild card lead coming in, didn't make any moves.

Ramirez hit his team-high 24th homer in the third, sending a two-run homer off Webb onto Waveland Ave. to make it 6-3.

Game notes
Hudson threw out Cedeno at home after making a running catch in shallow right field to end the seventh. His six RBI were a career high. ... The Diamondbacks had hit five home runs in a game 10 times. ... Prior hit both Green and Tracy in the at-bats following their home runs. ... All three homers against Prior were hit by left-handers. Left-handers were hitting .310 against Prior before the game. ... Arizona catcher Johnny Estrada left the game in the fourth inning with an upset stomach. Chris Snyder replaced him. ... Hudson's homers gave him 11 for the season. Green also got his 10th, while Byrnes and Tracy each hit their 15th. ... Luis Gonzalez extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a double in the first.