SportsLine wire reports

MILWAUKEE -- Jim Abbott's first career hit and RBI weren't enough for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Mark Grace hit a go-ahead, two-run single off the one-handed pitcher in the seventh inning, and the Chicago Cubs ended a five-game losing streak with a 7-4 victory Tuesday night.

"It's very nice," Abbott said. ``We play the game for moments like that, and I'll always remember that."

With the score tied at 1 and runners on first and second in the fourth inning, Abbott (1-6) lined the first pitch from Jon Lieber just over the reach of shortstop Jose Hernandez. Sean Berry scored from second, but Sammy Sosa threw out Geoff Jenkins at third base to end the inning.

"I'm just trying to make contact when I go up there," Abbott said. ``It just seems like I'm facing tough pitchers. It's not an easy thing to do, and I have a world of respect for major league hitters."

Abbott, who was born without a right hand and balances the bat with his right arm, was in his 14th at-bat and 18th plate appearance of the season.

"It doesn't amaze me," Lieber said. ``If he can pitch, he can handle the bat."

HE STRUCK OUT IN THE second inning and flied to left in the sixth, leaving his season average at .067 (1-for-15). He also has three sacrifices.

"God bless him," Grace said.

Abbott, who before this year played exclusively in the American League, didn't bat in a regular-season game until joining the Brewers.

He was 1-for-4 during spring training this year with two groundouts, a flyout, and has three hits during spring training in his career.

"I was surprised he hadn't had one yet," Milwaukee manager Phil Garner said. "In batting practice, he's got surprising power. He can drive the ball. I've played golf with him, and he can drive the golf ball a far piece too."

Chicago argued unsuccessfully with umpire Charlie Williams that the run should not have counted because Berry had not touched home plate before Jenkins was tagged out.

Before 40,878, the third-largest of the season at County Stadium, Abbott led 4-3 in the seventh when Chicago loaded the bases on singles by Benito Santiago, pinch-hitter Jeff Blauser and Jose Hernandez, and Grace bounced a two-out single over the head of first baseman Sean Berry.

"Smart hitting, extremely intelligent hitting ... that's knowing the field," Grace said, jokingly.

SANTIAGO ADDED A TWO-RUN homer off Al Reyes in the eighth. Sosa extended his hitting streak to a career-high 18 with a sixth-inning single.

"A couple of crazy things happened that certainly didn't go our way," Garner said. "I think everybody's pulling for Jimmy. What we're seeing around the league is everybody pulling for him."

Even Chicago's hitters.

"That was awesome," Gary Gaetti said. ``It's too bad for him that he got the unlucky bounce on Mark's hit, but it was good for us. I think Jim's a real inspiration to a lot of kids ... a lot of people."

Lieber (6-2) allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings, and Terry Adams got three outs for his fourth save in four chances.

Glenallen Hill's eighth homer put Chicago ahead in the second, but Geoff Jenkins singled in a run in the bottom half.

Chicago took a 3-1 lead in the third when right fielder Jeromy Burnitz dropped Mickey Morandini's long fly ball for a two-run error. Burnitz's two- run homer gave Milwaukee a 4-3 lead in the bottom half.

Notes

• Abbott singled off Seattle's Butch Henry in spring training on March 10. On March 28, 1992, he singled for the Yankees off Florida's Mike Myers. and on March 18, 1991, he tripled for the Angels against San Francisco's Rick Reuschel.
• The Brewers are 9-21 at home and have yet to win a series this season at County Stadium. They are 18-15 on the road.
• The Brewers have hit at least one home run in 12 straight games, the first time they have done so since 1987.
• The Brewers signed draft picks Ruddy Lugo of New York and Jeremy Durkee of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Both are pitchers. Lugo was picked in the third round, Durkee in the 28th round.

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