Sat May 10 19:01:48 2008

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Cubs crush D'backs

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Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Kosuke Fukudome hit a two-run homer and Alfonso Soriano had four hits and an RBI as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, 7-2, in the second of a three-game set at Wrigley Field.

Soriano also scored a pair of runs, while Aramis Ramirez had two hits, including a double and an RBI for the Cubs, who have won two straight and three of their last four.

Ryan Dempster pitched seven solid innings, but earned a no-decision. The veteran righty allowed two runs on three hits, while striking out seven and walking three. Scott Eyre (1-0) got the victory by tossing a scoreless seventh.

Augie Ojeda finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and Justin Upton and Mark Reynolds accounted for the Arizona runs. The Diamondbacks have dropped two in a row and five of their last seven game.

Max Scherzer went an effective six frames, surrendering an unearned run on five hits. The rookie right-hander, who was making his second career start, struck out six and walked one. Chad Qualls (0-4) was tagged with the loss after giving up four runs on four hits in one-third of an inning.

After a scoreless two innings, Soriano got things started with a two-out single and Ryan Theriot followed with a base hit to right that plated Soriano with the aid of an error by Upton.

Arizona manufactured a pair of runs in the sixth. With the bases loaded and one out, Upton drew a walk to score Ojeda, who led off the inning with a base hit. Reynolds then grounded out to shortstop, but Stephen Drew crossed the plate to put the Diamondbacks ahead 2-1.

However, Chicago responded by exploding for six runs in the seventh. With Mark DeRosa on second and one out, Daryle Ward's pinch-hit single plated a run to tie the game, but the Cubs weren't finished. Soriano's RBI double to center made it 3-2, then Theriot and Ramirez each plated a run with base hits, before Fukudome's two-run homer to left put Chicago up 7-2.

The Cubs bullpen was solid the rest of the way and Carlos Marmol came on for the ninth and allowed a two-out walk before retiring Miguel Montero to end the game.

Game Notes

Attendance was 41,597...Carlos Zambrano (5-1) takes the hill for the Cubs in Sunday's series finale, while Randy Johnson (2-1) gets the starting nod for Arizona...The Cubs are 2-0 to start their current 10-game homestand...Chicago improved to 13-6 at Wrigley Field this season...The Diamondbacks fell to 9-7 on the road.