Cubs win on road after horrific trip home

 

 

By The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE – Alfonso Soriano had five hits, including a three-run homer, to help the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-2 Monday night.

The win was the second in a row for the Cubs since manager Lou Piniella was ejected on Saturday in Chicago, after a dirt-kicking tantrum against an umpire following a close play at third base. Piniella was suspended four games by Major League Baseball for the incident.

Soriano, who also had four singles, has homered in each of his last three games. The last time he had five hits in a game was as a member of the New York Yankees on Sept. 17, 2002, a 9-7 loss to Tampa Bay.

Carlos Marmol (1-0) got the win, retiring two batters in the sixth inning in relief of starter Jason Marquis.

Chicago trailed 2-1 in the seventh when Michael Barrett drew a leadoff walk. He stole second and advanced to third on a single by Mark DeRosa. Cesar Izturis’ RBI single drove Dave Bush from the game.

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Cliff Floyd kept the inning going with a pinch hit single off reliever Brian Shouse that drove in DeRosa, giving Chicago a 3-2 lead. Brewers manager Ned Yost brought in reliever Matt Wise to pitch to Soriano, who hit the second pitch he saw into the left field stands for his seventh home run of the season.

Bush (3-6) gave up four runs on seven hits in six-plus innings.

The Cubs grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first on Ramirez’s RBI double into the left field corner.

The Brewers tied the game in the third when Prince Fielder hit his National League-leading 20th home run of the season. Fielder, who was named the NL player of the month for May on Monday, has hit 14 home runs since May 1.

Chicago’s season-long troubles continued after Fielder’s home run. Johnny Estrada hit a popup near the mound. Marquis appeared ready to catch it, but backed away at the last second and the ball dropped between him, Barrett and three of the Cubs’ infielders. Estrada was safe at first on an error charged to Marquis.

Marquis got out of the inning by getting Geoff Jenkins to ground out.

The Brewers grabbed a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning on Corey Hart’s RBI infield single.

Marquis pitched 5 1-3 innings, giving up two runs on seven hits.