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Slumping Cubs hope to have Soriano back vs. D-Backs

Jul 23, 2008 - 12:16 PM Chicago (58-42) at Arizona (50-50) 9:40 pm. EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The return of Alfonso Soriano could not come at a better time for the Chicago Cubs.

The slumping Cubs hope to have Soriano in the lineup for the first time in more than a month on Wednesday when try and avoid a three-game series sweep at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

After managing just two hits in a 2-0 loss on Monday, the Cubs were shutdown by spot starter Yusmeiro Pettit in a 9-2 loss on Tuesday. Chicago leads the NL with 520 runs, but has lost five of six and has not scored more than two runs in each of those losses.

Needless to say, Soriano's return would be a big boost to its struggling offense. The slugging left fielder has been on the disabled list since June 11 after suffering a broken bone his hand when he was hit by a pitch.

Soriano, who spent time on the DL with a calf injury earlier this season, was hitting .283 with 15 home runs and 40 RBI in 51 games before his most recent setback. The Cubs went 10-5 the first time they were without their star leadoff man, but are just 16-18 since he went down in early June.

The good news is that Soriano went 1-for-3 in his rehab start for Class AAA Tuscon on Tuesday, and Chicago manager Lou Piniella said he could be in the lineup for the finale of this series.

"If he's ready to go, we'll play him tomorrow," Piniella told the team's official web site.

The Cubs' lineup will face lefthander Doug Davis, who is 0-1 with a 5.29 ERA in his last five starts. Davis (3-4, 4.14 ERA) was tagged for five runs - four earned - and five hits in three innings of an 8-7, 11-inning loss to Los Angeles on Friday.

Chicago counters with lefthander Ted Lilly (9-6, 4.49), who is looking for his first win since June 30.