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The Leading Logic In Sports Handicapping |
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CHICAGO (Ticker) -- With one big inning, the Chicago Cubs
spoiled the chance for the Arizona Diamondbacks rookie starter
to earn his first major league win.
Alfonso Soriano had four hits and scored twice as the Chicago
Cubs used a six-run seventh inning to blow past the
Diamondbacks, 7-2, on Saturday.
Kosuke Fukudome blasted his first home run since Opening Day for
the Cubs, who have won two straight games after dropping nine
of their previous 13 contests.
Arizona's Max Scherzer was in line to earn the victory in his
second major league start when he departed with a 2-1 lead after
six innings.
The 23-year-old righthander allowed one unearned run and five
hits over six innings with one walk and six strikeouts. He also
hit two batters during his 82-pitch outing.
"He was very impressive," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said.
"He got ahead of hitters, which enabled him to throw his
breaking ball. We said we are going to be real careful with him
and watch his pitch count.
"We felt with our bullpen, we could get him out with a lead."
But the Cubs erupted in the bottom of the seventh off Arizona
reliever Chad Qualls (0-4) as Daryle Ward delivered a pinch-hit
RBI single to left to tie the game.
After a wild pitch, Soriano then came through with an RBI double
and scored on Ryan Theriot's single to center, pushing
Chicago's advantage to 4-2.
Soriano, who had his first four-hit game of the season, had been
hitting just .219 (7-for-32) since coming off the disabled list
with a strained right calf on May 1.
"I was waiting for this day for a long time," Soriano said. "I
felt very comfortable at home plate. I felt my hands were very
good. I could wait for the ball."
Cubs manager Lou Piniella also was happy about his leadoff
hitter's big day.
"(Soriano's) been swinging the bat better," Piniella said. "He
had a couple of bloopers. Then he really got hot and lined a
couple of balls to left field. He's been working hard."
Aramis Ramirez continued the outburst with another RBI single
off Diamondbacks reliever Brandon Medders, and Fukudome then
swatted a two-run shot to center, giving the Cubs a 7-2 bulge.
Qualls, who had a 0.93 ERA entering the day, retired just one
batter and gave up four runs. Medders was charged with two runs
in two-thirds of an inning.
"It's really the first time this year he's (Qualls) given up a
legitimate run," Melvin said. "Our seventh-, eighth- and
ninth-inning pitchers have been great. The bullpen just didn't
get it done this time."
Chicago had taken a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third when
Soriano hit a two-out single and came around to score when
Arizona right fielder Justin Upton bobbled Theriot's single to
right.
The Cubs had a chance to extend their lead in the bottom of the
fifth when they loaded the bases with one out. However, Upton
caught a fly ball from Derrek Lee and threw out Reed Johnson at
the plate, keeping Chicago in front by just one run.
Arizona's offense finally broke through in the sixth. Upton
walked with the bases loaded, bringing home Augie Ojeda. Mark
Reynolds followed with an RBI groundout to shortstop, giving the
Diamondbacks a 2-1 advantage.
The two-run inning was the only blemish on Cubs starter Ryan
Dempster's outing. The righthander allowed three hits and three
walks with seven strikeouts, throwing a season-high 118
pitches.
"We win the games I start, I'm happy," Dempster said. "I just
tried to go out there today, stay consistent and make pitches."
Pitching in his first game of the season, Scott Eyre (1-0) threw
a scoreless inning in the seventh to earn his first win of the
seaso
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