CHICAGO - Sammy Sosa and the Chicago Cubs were cruising when Marlins reliever Michael Tejera slipped into the game almost unnoticed in the eighth inning.

Right away, he caught everyone's attention. Tejera slipped on his first pitch and the ball flew crazy, sailing sideways over Florida's first-base dugout.

Considering how the Cubs have been hitting, that was about the safest place for him to throw it.

Sosa struck again Wednesday night, launching a 495-foot shot that highlighted the Cubs' four home runs in a 12-3 romp that evened the NL championship series after two games.

''I've been lucky. I've been seeing good pitches and I've hit them out,'' Sosa said.

The Cubs put on a startling display of raw power at the plate and on the mound. Alex Gonzalez homered twice and Aramis Ramirez also connected, and the Cubs built a 11-0 lead after five innings for Mark Prior.

''Playoff games aren't necessarily a chance to work on things. But I got a chance to work on my changeup,'' Prior said.

Sosa, meanwhile, perfected his power stroke, producing a drive that got Wrigley Field roaring.

''I was so happy that I had a chance to produce,'' he said. ''As soon as I put the swing on the ball, the ball was out of the ballpark.''

There was no telling how far it might go as it sailed over the juniper bushes in dead center field. There's no telling how far he might carry the Cubs, either.

''This is the prime time to do it,'' Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. ''He really hasn't had a hot streak all year. It seems when he does, he hits a home run every at-bat.

''I'm hoping it's on the way. Boy, it's coming right on time,'' he said.

A day after he tied Game 1 with a two-out, two-run shot in the ninth for his first postseason home run, Sosa hit a two-run drive in the second inning that went even farther.

By a lot.

Sosa launched a drive that soared over the ivy-covered wall, sailed above the shrubbery that serves as a batter's backdrop and threatened to fly completely out of the park. Only a television camera booth kept the ball from becoming a street souvenir.

Teammate Kenny Lofton, who was on third base, shuddered as he watched it go. Marlins center fielder Juan Pierre didn't even bother to move.

''He hit that a mile. He can do that every once in a while,'' Gonzalez said.

Asked whether he had reconsidered his strategy about pitching to Sosa, Marlins manager Jack McKeon bucked up.

''Did he beat us? Enough said,'' he said.

Now, the best-of-seven series shifts to Pro Player Stadium for Game 3 Friday night. While the Marlins are one of baseball's best home teams, the Cubs must like their chances with Kerry Wood pitching against Mark Redman.

Wood pitched a two-hitter and a three-hitter against the Marlins this year, striking out a total of 20, and is 4-0 against them lifetime.

Following the Marlins' 9-8, 11-inning win in the opener when the teams combined for an NLCS-record 17 extra-base hits, hitters again wore out the gaps and corners.

This time, the big hits went in Chicago's favor and so did the little ones. Lofton tied an NLCS mark with four hits, all singles.

The Cubs have totaled 20 runs and 27 hits, not exactly what most people expected in a playoff series between two teams with young, strong pitching staffs.

''The ball is jumping here,'' said Mark Grudzielanek, who had two of the Cubs' 16 hits. ''It's flying the best I've ever seen it all year. I don't know if it is the humidity, how hot it got this week or what.''

Coming off his two-hit gem against Atlanta in the first round, Prior cruised until the sixth, when Derrek Lee and rookie Miguel Cabrera led off with consecutive home runs that made it 11-2.

Prior left with two on and no outs in the eighth to a standing ovation, having allowed three runs. Along with shutting down the Marlins, he shook them up by hitting a foul ball that scattered the Florida relievers sitting on a bench down the right-field line.

Baker found a neat way to finish it off, too. He brought in reliever Mark Guthrie, who served up Mike Lowell's winning, pinch-hit homer in the opener, for the last two outs.

While Prior was in control, Marlins starter Brad Penny was hit hard. He gave up seven runs in two-plus innings and was hooted off the mound.

''He just didn't have good location,'' McKeon said.