Caminiti Throws Out Last Cubs’ Gasp

CHICAGO — San Diego third baseman Ken Caminiti showed off his arm at the expense of Sammy Sosa and the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.

Caminiti made a spectacular game-ending play in the Padres’ 4-3 victory.

“If it was any other arm, we’d be tied and still playing,” Cub outfielder Lance Johnson said.

With one out in the ninth inning, Doug Glanville singled off Trevor Hoffman, stole second base and reached third on a groundout.

Sosa then hit a liner to third that was so hard it left a welt on Caminiti’s left wrist. Caminiti knocked the ball down, scrambled to recover and threw out Sosa at first.

“I tried to catch it but I didn’t,” Caminiti said. “I tried to react as best I could. That’s do or die right there.”

Sosa slid headfirst into first base.

“I didn’t think he was going to get it,” Sosa said. “It was a great play by a great player. I tip my hat to him. But he does that to everyone, not just me.”

Padre first baseman Wally Joyner expected Caminiti to make the play.

“No doubt he was going to give me a chance to catch it,” Joyner said. “He’s the best.”

San Diego took the lead in the top of the inning on Greg Vaughn’s home run to left-center field.

Vaughn connected off Kent Bottenfield (2-3) for his 12th home run. It was Vaughn’s first homer since July 22, when he delivered a pinch-hit shot against Pittsburgh.

San Diego won for only the fourth time in the last 12 games. Chicago, which got a home run from newly acquired Johnson, lost for the 13th time in its last 17.

Rickey Henderson hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning that scored Vaughn, who had walked, and made it 3-3. Henderson, who stole three bases, started in right field in place of Tony Gwynn.

Doug Bochtler (2-5) pitched two innings for the victory, and Hoffman got the final three outs for his 28th save.

Padre starter Sterling Hitchcock gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings.

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