Sun Sep 16 02:51:30 2007

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Soriano's homer lifts Cubs to win over Cards

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St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Alfonso Soriano belted the go-head, two-run home run in the eighth inning, as the Chicago Cubs came back to top the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-2, in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.

The Cardinals have now dropped a season-high nine straight games to tumble out of the playoff picture in the NL Central, falling seven games behind the first-place Cubs.

Ted Lilly pitched six strong innings for the Cubs, allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Kerry Wood (1-1) picked up the win with one scoreless inning of relief for the Cubs, who have won four straight and six of eight, taking a two-game lead over Brewers in the NL Central. Milwaukee is in action later Saturday against the Reds.

Braden Looper took a tough no-decision, tossing seven innings of three-hit, one run ball, with five strikeouts and two walks. Ryan Franklin (4-4) took the loss for the Cardinals, giving up Soriano's homer. Jim Edmonds provided all the offense for the Cubs with a two-run double in the first.

Franklin entered for Looper in the eighth, and surrendered the lead almost immediately. Pinch-hitter Cliff Floyd worked a leadoff walk, and Soriano followed with his 26th homer of the season, a shot to left, putting the Cubs on top.

Carlos Marmol pitched a scoreless eighth, and Ryan Dempster shut the door in the ninth for his 27th save of the season.

The Cardinals jumped on top with two runs in a two-out rally in the first. Aaron Miles grounded out to short, and So Taguchi flied out to center to start the game, but Albert Pujols kept the inning alive with a single to left. Lilly then issued a free pass to Ryan Ludwick, putting runners at first and second with two outs. Edmonds came through with a double to right, plating both runners for the early lead.

Lilly settled down after the first, though, holding the Cardinals scoreless for the next five innings, and Chicago got one run right back in the second. Mark DeRosa worked a leadoff walk, and Geovany Soto doubled to left, putting runners at second and third with no outs. Mike Fontenot lifted a sacrifice fly to center, plating DeRosa. Looper fanned his pitching counterpart, though, and Soriano flied out to center to end the threat.

Game Notes

This is the first doubleheader of the season for the Cubs, and only the fourth day-night doubleheader for the club in 40 seasons...Lilly is still in search of his career-high 16th win...This is the longest Cardinals losing streak since 1980, when they dropped 10 in a row.