Mon May 12 23:49:22 2008

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Zambrano shines again as Cubs club Padres

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Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Alfonso Soriano went 2-for-5 with a double and a two-run homer, part of an electric offensive outing that saw the Chicago Cubs cruise past the San Diego Padres, 12-3, in the opener of a four-game set at Wrigley Field.

Carlos Zambrano (6-1) made another quality start for Chicago, hurling seven innings and giving up three runs on six hits and two walks while fanning five. He had been scheduled to pitch Sunday, but was pushed back to Monday after rain delayed the start of the game for nearly an hour.

Geovany Soto and Mark DeRosa also drove in two runs apiece for the Cubs, who have triumphed in four straight. Derrek Lee went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Aramis Ramirez and Kosuke Fukudome each scored twice and knocked in one apiece.

Randy Wolf (2-3) lasted only four innings for San Diego, surrendering seven runs on eight hits and five walks. The southpaw slipped to 0-3 over his last four starts, and 2-6 in his career against the Cubs. Sean Henn fared no better in relief, yielding five runs on three hits and three walks over just 1 2/3 innings.

Jody Gerut went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and two walks for the Padres, who have dropped six of their last eight outings. Tadahito Iguchi and Edgar Gonzalez -- who made his MLB debut -- each added an RBI, as San Diego fell to 12-4 in the last 16 meetings with Chicago.

San Diego deadlocked the duel in the third when Iguchi delivered a base hit to right that scored Wolf, and then took a 2-1 edge in the fifth on Gerut's two- out solo shot to right.

Chicago responded immediately, though, erupting for six runs in the bottom of the inning. Zambrano began the offensive outburst with a double to right, and Soriano followed with a blast over the ivy in center field.

After Ryan Theriot walked and Lee singled to left, Ramirez swatted a single to right that brought Theriot around to score. Fukudome then drew a walk to load the bases, and Soto and DeRosa belted back-to-back base hits that plated three more runs. Soto's single to center drove in Lee and Ramirez, while DeRosa beat out an infield single that allowed Fukudome to cross the plate, and the Cubs surged ahead, 7-2.

The onslaught continued in the sixth, as Chicago stretched its advantage with another five runs. Ramirez worked a four-pitch walk to fill the bases, and Fukudome then walked as well, enabling Soriano to trot home. After a Soto fly out to center, DeRosa slapped another infield single, plating Theriot. On the play, San Diego third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff threw the ball away, and Ramirez and Fukudome both came in to score. Reed Johnson then connected on a base hit up the middle, and DeRosa circled the diamond to give the Cubs a comfortable 12-2 cushion.

The Pads trimmed the margin to 12-3 in the seventh, when Gonzalez singled home Scott Hairston, who had reached base on a fielder's choice. However, that was the only additional firepower San Diego could muster.

The Cubs got on the board in the home half of the first frame. Theriot smacked a one-out base hit to right, and Lee knocked him in when he laced a double to right.

Game Notes

Tuesday is slated for Chicago's Jason Marquis (1-2) to battle San Diego's Shawn Estes (0-0)...Prior to Monday's game, the Padres purchased the contract of Gonzalez from Triple-A Portland. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, infielder Callix Crabbe was designated for assignment. Gonzalez, who made his MLB debut as a defensive replacement at third base in the sixth inning, is the older brother of San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.