Cubs win big, lose Soriano
April 17, 2007
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs shook up their lineup. Then, Alfonso Soriano got shaken up.
Soriano left in the fifth inning after injuring a hamstring while attempting a diving catch in the Cubs’ 12-4 rout of the San Diego Padres on Monday night.
Jason Marquis (1-1) allowed one run in six innings to win for the first time in three starts since signing a $21 million contract with the Cubs.
Chicago led 3-0 in the fifth when, with a runner on third and one out, Clay Hensley (0-3) lofted a fly to shallow center. Soriano raced in, dove and rolled over as he trapped the ball.
Soriano then got up and slipped while attempting a throw. Trainer Mark O’Neal tended to him, and Soriano walked off under his own power. Chicago said Soriano strained his left hamstring.
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Soriano, who signed a $136 million, eight-year contract, and Marquis were key components in the Cubs’ offseason makeover.
Chicago began the night last in the NL Central at 4-7 and entered with five losses in six games, and manager Lou Piniella shook up the lineup.
The biggest change was moving Jacque Jones from right field to left and dropping him to sixth in the batting order. Matt Murton started in right, batted cleanup and delivered two hits and two RBIs.
Piniella said before the game he was simply “changing things up a little bit. Nothing more, nothing less.”
He also said one move that is not under consideration is moving Soriano out of center field, even though he entered with a .234 average and no homers.
Chicago had responded to the changes with season highs for runs and hits (14).
Hensley gave up 10 runs and 11 hits in five-plus innings. Marcus Giles had one of the few bright spots for the Padres, hitting a three-run homer in the ninth off Will Ohman, who has a 9.00 ERA.