Quote: "It's only the third day. I don't know if the same thing is going to happen like last year. I'm like the weather -- when it's hot, I'm hot. I've got to continue to be patient."

Sammy Sosa of the Cubs, who homered for the second consecutive game yesterday and hit a major-league record 20 home runs last June.

It's a fact: The Cardinals are 1-16 when they score fewer than four runs.

Who's hot: The Cubs' Kevin Tapani is 4-1 with a 2.09 ERA in his last seven starts.

Who's not: The Astros' Shane Reynolds lost yesterday for the third time in four starts.

On deck: The Diamondbacks' Randy Johnson faces a familiar opponent tonight in the Texas Rangers, his former rivals in the AL West and one of the teams that was in the running for him in the off-season.

Pub Date: 6/04/99