Game 42 Recap-
LF Alfonso Soriano hit the 1st pitch he saw from Pirates LH Tom Gorzelanny into the stands and the Chicago Cubs took off from there and beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 7-3 at Wrigley Field in Chicago Friday. Soriano was the story as he homered on consecutive at bats and produced 4 rbi out of the lead off spot.
Young Cubs RH Sean Gallagher benefited from the offense and got his 1st ML win, going 6 innings with 4 hits and 1 run allowed. He walked and struck out 3 batters. His mound counterpart, Gorzelanny, struggled all day, and was tagged over 6 innings. He allowed 7 hits(4 homers) and 7 runs while striking out 3 and walking 2.
After Soriano’s leadoff homer, Chicago scored 2 more runs in the 1st via a rbi ground out and solo home run by C Geovany Soto. Soriano crushed a 3 run shot to left center in the 2nd and it was quickly 6-0, Chicago. Pirates RF Xavier Nady singled in a run in the 6th but another solo homer by RF Mark DeRosa in the same inning put the deficit back at 6, 7-1. The Pirates mounted a small rally in the 8th vs RH Rp Bob Howry with LF Jason Bay and 1b Doug Mientkiewicz(2 run) homered to make it 7-4. Cubs closer RH Kerry Wood retired the side in the 9th for his 9th save and a Cubs win.
Star of the Game-
Soriano- 2 homers, 4 rbis, set the tone….
Pirates Notes-
SS Jack Wilson was 1 for 3 in his rehab assigment at Triple A Indianapolis Thursday night
Next Game-
Saturday - 1:05 Wrigley Field, Chicago
Pirates LH Zach Duke(2-2) vs Cubs RH Carlos Zambrano(6-1)
