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Soriano homers twice as Cubs top Pirates

Sep 23, 2007 - 12:29 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs continue to power their way toward the National League Central Division title.

Alfonso Soriano hit two home runs and had five RBI as the Cubs defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-5, on Saturday.

Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez also homered for the Cubs, who have hit 36 homers in 22 games this month. The Cubs (82-73) moved 2 1/2 games ahead Milwaukee (79-75), which dropped a 4-3 decision in 11 innings at Atlanta on Saturday.

"Today was all about our big guys," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "Soriano, Lee and Ramirez. This time of year, this is what you hope for from them. It's exactly what we are getting."

Soriano's first blast of the game, his 30th of the season, was a solo shot that tied the game at 3-3 in the second inning. After Ramirez belted his two-run shot in the third, Soriano made it 7-3 in the fifth with a two-run home run.

"This is the best month I have had this year," Soriano said. "We haven't made the playoffs yet and Milwaukee is playing good. It is a good time for our offense to be hitting."

Soriano, who added a two-run double in the seventh, has homered in his last three games and has 12 longballs this month.

Ramirez has been on fire at Wrigley Field, where he is batting .414 (12-for-29) with six home runs and 14 RBI in his last eight games.

"There is no good reason that we are suddenly hitting all these home runs," Ramirez said. "When home runs come, they come in bunches. That is what is happening right now."

Cubs starter Rich Hill (10-8) was the beneficiary of the power surge as he picked up the win after allowing three runs, five hits and two walks while striking out four in five innings.

"The positive thing was battling back and having a 1-2-3 (third) inning after giving up the three runs (in the second inning)," Hill said. "To only get through five innings today is disappointing. Right now though, a win is a win, you take it."

Pittsburgh's Zach Duke (3-8) was pinned with the loss after giving up five runs - four earned - and nine hits in four innings. The lefthander, who also allowed three walks and struck out four, had come in 4-1 with a 1.57 ERA in seven career starts against the Cubs.

"I made some mistakes today and the Cubs didn't miss them," Duke said. "They are hungry and can taste the playoffs right now. The Cubs are a totally different team than we saw earlier in the year."

Duke also provided a two-run single and Nate McLouth added a late solo home run though it did little to help the Pirates avoid their season-high eighth straight loss.

Lee finished the game with four hits for Chicago, which has won three in a row and nine of 11.

"This is an exciting time," Piniella said. "If you can't excited about games like this, you aren't a very excitable person."