Soriano's blast helps Cubs pull out win over Astros
Baseball Betting Lines
08/05/2008 -
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alfonso Soriano hit a go-ahead three-run
homer in the seventh to help give the Chicago Cubs an 11-7 victory over the
Houston Astros in the second of three games at Wrigley Field.
Soriano's homer saved the Cubs, who blew a 6-1 lead. The Chicago left fielder
finished the day hitting 3-for-5 with four runs batted in and two runs scored.
Derrek Lee added four hits, two runs scored and an RBI while Mark DeRosa went
3-for-5, scoring a run and knocking in three.
"Once (Soriano) bats that first time in the leadoff spot, he can be a three
hitter, a four hitter, a five hitter," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "The
back part of our lineup has done a nice job of presenting opportunities
for him. Just a big, big hit, a three-run homer."
The victory gives the Cubs eight wins in their last ten games.
Although Bob Howry (4-4) struggled, giving up two runs on two hits in 1 1/3
innings of work, he received the win after Chicago's five-run outburst in the
seventh.
Rich Harden had his worst outing since coming to the Cubs from Oakland. The
righty threw 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs -- four earned -- on eight
hits, fanning eight and walking one. In Harden's four Chicago starts prior to
Tuesday, he had given up only three runs and 14 hits in 24 1/3 innings.
"Harden was a little tired today," Piniella said. "When I went out and talked
to him, it's the first time this year he told me he had enough. But he'll get
seven days between starts, so he'll be nice and fresh his next time out."
Darin Erstad led the way for Houston, batting 4-for-4 with an RBI and run
scored. Carlos Lee and Geoff Blum added two-run homers, while Ty Wigginton
added a solo shot in defeat.
Wandy Rodriguez threw five innings and gave up six runs on nine hits while
striking out one and walking two. The loss is Houston's first of August,
having won its previous four games.
Chris Sampson (5-4) got the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in
just 1 1/3 innings of work.
After the Astros came back to take a 7-6 lead in the top of the seventh,
Chicago mounted a comeback of its own. In the home half, Reed Johnson led off
with a single and DeRosa doubled, putting runners on second and third. Kosuke
Fukudome followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game.
Later, after pinch-hitter Daryle Ward was intentionally walked and pinch-
hitter Geovany Soto struck out, Soriano put the Cubs back on top with a huge
three-run blast to left off Doug Brocail, giving Chicago a 10-7 lead.
Following a Ryan Theriot walk and stolen base, Derrek Lee drove him in with an
RBI single to stretch the lead to four.
The Cubs got off to a quick start in the first. With one out, Theriot walked
and Derrek Lee doubled down the left field line to put runners on second and
third. Johnson was later hit by a pitch to load the bases for DeRosa, who
blooped a double down the right field line, giving Chicago a 2-0 lead.
Houston answered back with one run in the second on Erstad's RBI single,
plating Blum, but Chicago opened up a 6-1 advantage in the second. Henry
Blanco doubled, then Harden bunted for a single to put runners on the corners.
Soriano followed with a run-scoring single to left.
Two batters later, Derrek Lee loaded the bases on a bloop single to right, and
the Cubs scored their fourth run as Aramis Ramirez walked to force in a run.
Johnson followed with a sacrifice fly, and DeRosa plated another run with
a single to left.
Wigginton hit his 11th homer of the season to lead off the fifth, pulling
the Astros within four. Houston added another run in the same inning as Kaz
Matsui tripled to plate Erstad, who had singled.
Blum closed the gap to 6-5 in the sixth as he blasted a two-run shot -- his
10th of the season -- to right. After Harden allowed two runners to reach
base following the homer, Howry came in and got Mark Loretta to ground out to
prevent any further damage.
Houston capped its comeback in the seventh. Matsui singled to lead off,
and Carlos Lee later hit a go-ahead two-run homer, giving the Astros a 7-6
lead.
Game Notes
Houston leads the season series 6-5...Chicago is 42-16 at home, best in the
majors...Cubs closer Kerry Wood was activated from the 15-day disabled list
prior to Tuesday's game. He threw one scoreless inning in his first
appearance since July 11. Lefty Scott Eyre was designated for assignment to
make room for Wood.
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Big East Conference odds
Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence
 Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.
Work left to do:
Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.
Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.
DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...
West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.
Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.
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