• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Cubs down Rangers, end three-game losing streak

Apr 18, 2013 - 11:56 PM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer and the Chicago Cubs defeated the Texas Rangers, 6-2, in an interleague matchup on Thursday.

Alfonso Soriano added a solo shot while Luis Valbuena drove in two runs and had a stolen base for the Cubs, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Starter Carlos Villanueva (1-0) fanned six and allowed two runs on four hits and a walk over seven innings.

"I found some things today and just got to build off the momentum here," said Rizzo. "It's big that Soriano hit as well, got his monkey off that shoulder, home run and an RBI. If this team is going to go, we have to take it. Soriano and I, we know we have to hit and we just want to keep building."

Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz each had solo home runs for the Rangers, who saw starter Alexi Ogando (2-1) surrender five runs on six hits and two walks in 2 1/3 innings.

"It was just one of those days where it just didn't seem like things were meant to go our way," said Rangers catcher A.J. Pierzynski. "But that's baseball and that's the way things work."

Valbuena drove in the first score of the game, a one-out single that plated Nate Schierholtz in the bottom of the second inning.

In the third, Chicago's David DeJesus had a leadoff triple and scored on a wild pitch by Ogando with Starlin Castro batting. Castro was walked afterwards, setting up back-to-back homers by Rizzo and Soriano that made the score 5-0.

The Rangers got on the board in the fourth, when Kinsler homered to leadoff the inning.

Valbuena hit a one-out double in the fifth, scoring Welington Castillo.

Cruz's solo shot came in the seventh.

Carlos Marmol came out for the Cubs in the ninth. He allowed a leadoff single by Leury Garcia, but registered three straight outs -- including two by strikeout -- to end the game.

Game Notes

Castro had a stolen base ... Soriano recorded his first RBI of the season ... Soriano extended his hitting streak against the Rangers to 17 games ... Villanueva threw 87 pitches ... The Cubs were 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.