Soriano homers as Cubs beat Brewers 4-2

[May 11, 2009]  MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Alfonso Soriano hit a towering two-run homer in a four-run third inning and the Chicago Cubs survived another shaky outing by their bullpen, beating the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 Sunday to avoid a series sweep.

Cubs starter Sean Marshall (1-2) settled down after a rocky start, giving up a pair of runs and five hits in five innings. Marshall left the game with the Cubs holding a 4-2 lead, handing the ball over to what has been a surprisingly vulnerable Chicago bullpen.

Angel Guzman didn't allow a baserunner in the sixth or seventh, but Carlos Marmol managed to pitch out of a bases-loaded jam in a messy eighth inning.

Marmol gave up a leadoff double to Ryan Braun -- then was called for a balk, allowing Braun to take third.

Marmol struck out Prince Fielder but walked Mike Cameron, then allowed Cameron to take second on a wild pitch. Marmol got J.J. Hardy to pop out, bringing up Bill Hall with runners on second and third with two outs. Marmol ran the count to 3-2 and Hall walked on what was ruled a checked swing, raising the ire of Marmol and Cubs manager Lou Piniella.

With the bases loaded, Marmol got Jason Kendall to ground into a forceout at second to end the inning.

Kevin Gregg pitched the ninth and walked Rickie Weeks with one out before striking out Corey Hart and Braun for his sixth save.

Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead but Chicago rallied with a four-run third, as Bobby Scales singled and Soriano clubbed a 1-1 pitch from Brewers starter Jeff Suppan deep to left-center field for a two-run homer, his 10th of the season.

Soriano's big hit made up for his misplayed ball in left field during the previous inning, which allowed Kendall to stretch a double into an RBI triple.

Suppan then gave up a double to Aaron Miles, a single to Kosuke Fukudome and an RBI single to Milton Bradley, giving the Cubs a 3-2 lead.

Fukudome then scored from third when Suppan threw a wild pitch that dribbled away from catcher Kendall, and Kendall's attempt to throw to Suppan at the plate missed the mark for a throwing error.

Suppan (2-3) went six innings, giving up four runs -- three earned -- and eight hits.

Milwaukee charged to a 2-0 lead, getting a leadoff homer from Weeks in the first and the RBI triple by Kendall in the second, which bounced off the heel of Soriano's glove and hit his foot. But Marshall managed to avoid big inning both times, leaving a total of six runners stranded in the first three innings.

Notes: Cubs right-hander Chad Fox was placed on the 15-day disabled list and acknowledged that his career may be in jeopardy after his injury Saturday, the latest in a long line of right elbow problems. ... Brewers backup catcher Mike Rivera will begin a three-game rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Nashville on Monday. ... New Cubs acquisition Ryan Freel pinch-hit in the ninth and singled but was picked off second base.

[Associated Press; By CHRIS JENKINS]

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