• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Murton, Soriano go back-to-back as Cubs take series with Brewers

Aug 31, 2007 - 4:42 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Carlos Marmol picked up another shaky performance by Ted Lilly, and Matt Murton and Alfonso Soriano belted back-to-back homers as the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-4, in the rubber game of a crucial three-game series on Thursday.

Mark DeRosa drove in two runs for the Cubs (68-64), who moved 2 1/2 games ahead of the Brewers (66-67) for first place in the National League Central Division.

Marmol (4-1), who entered with a 1.47 ERA, struck out five batters in two scoreless innings to run his season total to 80 in 57 frames.

"I had three days off, so I felt extremely strong," Marmol said. "I am not really happy unless I am throwing everyday. It's a good team win for us."

With the game tied, 3-3, in the sixth, Murton hit a 3-2 offering from Chris Capuano (5-12) over the wall in left-center field for his fifth blast. Soriano followed by drilling a 1-0 pitch from the lefthander over the left-center field fence for his 19th of the season and first since July 28.

"I got a fastball inside," Soriano said. "They had been working me outside and down the whole series. After getting ball one I just decided to sit on a fastball, I got it."

Bobby Howry logged a perfect eighth and Ryan Dempster walked Corey Hart with the bases loaded in the ninth before retiring Kevin Mench for his 23rd save of the season.

Lilly, whose 13 wins is the most by a Cubs lefthander since Greg Hibbard won 15 times in 1993, was winless in his previous three starts after rattling off wins in eight of nine outings.

"I didn't have any command at all," Lilly said. "I did know that if I could stay out there the bullpen would pick me up and the guys would have a chance to come back and win it."

Entering 7-1 in 13 starts after Chicago losses, the lefthander got off to a rocky start when Rickie Weeks led off the game by belting a 1-2 offering over the center field wall for his fourth career leadoff blast and seventh homer of the season. It also extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

Kevin Mench followed shortly with a run-scoring double to left for a quick 2-0 lead. Mench added a sacrifice fly in the third.

Lilly lasted five innings and 107 pitches, yielding three runs and five hits.

"He really didn't have too much out there tonight," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "He did gut it out for five. Marmol and the rest of the bullpen did a great job after that."

Brewers rookie Manny Parra, making his second major league start, could not hold the early edge. The lefthander lasted just three innings due to a bruised left thumb nail and hurt himself by falling behind each of the first five batters he faced during a three-run second inning.

"I'm extremely disappointed," Parra said. "I am disappointed about getting hurt and more disappointed, I wasn't able to throw strikes."

Aramis Ramirez led off the frame with a walk before Craig Monroe lined a shot to right fielder Hart, who lost the ball in the lights for a double. DeRosa followed by lining a one-hop single to right, plating both runners to forge a 2-2 tie.

Jason Kendall walked and Jacque Jones plated DeRosa with a base hit to left-center for a 3-2 edge.

Parra was charged with three runs, three hits and three walks before giving way to Capuano, who yielded two runs and six hits in four innings.

It was the 18th straight time the Brewers, who have dropped six of seven, have lost when Capuano has appeared. With his 12th straight loss, Capuano broke the club record he held with Chris Bosio in 1988.

"All I can do is stay ready for situations like today," Capuano said. "My attitude to battle the best I can when I am out there. I can't focus on the past, I have to take all the emotion I can out if it and try to do the job."