5/16/08 vs. Pirates; W 7-4; (26-16)

Today was Alfonso Soriano drawstring bag day at Wrigley Field. It was also Alfonso Soriano leadoff home run day for the third time this week! He followed that up with a home run in his second at bat, giving him four rbi and extending the Cubs lead to 6-0. I am not sure what he did while he was on the disabled list, but it sure worked. He has given this team the boost they need and solidified himself as the leadoff hitter. Hitting is contagious, and the example set by Soriano in leading off the game is definitely helping the rest of the team.

Geovany Soto and Mark DeRosa added solo shots and Aramis Ramirez had the only other Cubs rbi on a groundout. The Cubs only outhit the Pirates 8-7, but used the long ball to make their knocks more productive than the Pirates hits. The Pirates rallied in the eighth with two long balls of their own. That only served to make the game close enough for Kerry Wood to earn his ninth save. Woody pitched a perfect ninth in what would have been just another non save appearance, except for the three runs given up by Howry in the eighth.

Defensively, Kosuke Fukudome got a day off. Ronny Cedeno started at second base which moved Mark DeRosa to right field. He made a great play in right field to end the fifth inning. Freddy Sanchez hit a long fly ball that DeRosa had to run for. The wind continued to carry the ball and DeRosa had to make a leaping catch that caused him to tumble and roll into the ivy covered wall. I think he could have made the play more routine, but has already learned from Edmonds how to milk those into a Sportscenter Top 10 play!

Edmonds had the day off today with the left hander Gorzelanny pitching. He probably will sit again when lefty Zach Duke throws for the Pirates in the next game. Carlos Zambrano will be on the hill for the Cubs as they attempt to move to 8-0 on the season against the Pirates.