Wood shines, Cubs rough up Cardinals in Smith's return

CHICAGO -- Some nights, Kerry Wood makes it look so easy.

Wood struck out nine in his first complete game in a year, and Alex Gonzalez drove in four runs as the Chicago Cubs made it tough on recently activated Bud Smith and the St. Louis Cardinals 8-0 on Tuesday night.

"I felt strong all night," said Wood, who had his first complete game and first shutout since May 25, 2001, when he pitched a one-hitter for a 1-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

"The guys came out swinging the bats and got us a good lead early, and that just made my job easier."

Gonzalez, who hit a game-winning homer in the ninth Monday night, was one RBI shy of his career high. Fred McGriff drove in a pair of runs for the Cubs, who have their first three-game winning streak this season.

Despite being 13-18, the Cubs are only 5 1/2 games back in the NL Central.

"If we can keep our guys healthy, we should be there in the end," said Joe Girardi, who went 2-for-3. "So far we haven't been able to do that, but I think we're going in the right direction."

Short-lived return for Smith

Smith, on the disabled list since April 22 with a strained left shoulder, was activated before the game. He lasted just two innings, giving up a career-high eight runs and six hits. Smith (0-3) also walked five, two intentionally.

Of Smith's 69 pitches, only 33 were strikes.

"My shoulder felt fine. And it wasn't the weather," said Smith, who pitched in short sleeves despite a game-time temperature of 41 degrees. "I was just not hitting a lot of spots, not getting quality pitches. I think I just need some innings."

The Cubs managed only three more hits after Smith left, but it didn't matter with the way Wood (4-2) was pitching. It was his third career shutout and fourth complete game of his career.

"Pretty easy," Girardi said of Wood's night. "Woody's got such electric stuff that sometimes you've got to be on your toes, but he was pretty much hitting my glove all night."

Wood looks in control

Wood seems to have worked out the control problems he had a couple of weeks ago, when he walked a combined 13 in two starts. After discovering he was throwing across his body again, he's spent the last 1 1/2 weeks working with pitching coach Larry Rothschild on his mechanics.

He scattered four hits and allowed just one extra-base hit, a double by Fernando Vina in the sixth. He didn't walk a batter until the seventh, and finished with a season-low two. He threw 115 pitches, including 72 for strikes.

"I hope what we worked on is going to stick with me," Wood said. "We took it out there today. I was just trying to get ahead and throw strikes, I wasn't thinking anything mechanically, and everything was good."

When he came to bat in the bottom of the eighth, the crowd of 35,748 stood and chanted, "KER-RY, KER-RY!" He responded with a hit, his second single of the game.

"It's great," he said. "The fans have always been good to me. It gives you that little extra shot of adrenaline when all of the fans are up on their feet, screaming."