Soto homers, drives in 3 runs in Cubs' win

[September 16, 2009]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Geovany Soto hit homered and drove in three runs, and the Chicago Cubs took advantage of 12 walks to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 13-7 on Tuesday night.

Derrek Lee hit a two-run double and drove in three runs and Mike Fontenot had an RBI single and scored twice for the Cubs, who have won seven of eight.

In addition to issuing 12 walks, five Brewers pitchers combined to hit three batters, two with the bases loaded.

Corey Hart had a two-run double and Mike Cameron had a two-run single to cap off a five-run inning for the Brewers.

Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo couldn't hold a 5-4 lead in the fifth. He gave up a solo shot to Soto on a 1-2 pitch to tie it at 5. It was Soto's 11th of the season.

With one out in the sixth inning, Gallardo walked Ryan Theriot and hit Kosuke Fukudome with a pitch before leaving the game.

Brewers reliever Toddy Coffey walked Lee to load the bases, then Coffey hit Aramis Ramirez with a pitch to allow the go-ahead run. Soto followed with a two-run single to give the Cubs an 8-5 lead and chase Coffey.

Milton Bradley followed with a hard liner to first baseman Prince Fielder. Fielder tried to get the force at second, but made an errant throw, allowing Ramirez to score. Fontenot followed with an RBI single off Brewers reliever Carlos Villanueva.

Cubs reliever Kevin Gregg (6-6) pitched a scoreless sixth inning.

Brewers reliever Chris Smith walked Lee with the bases loaded and hit Bradley in the seventh with the bases loaded.

Gallardo (12-12) allowed seven runs on seven hits and five walks in 5 1-3 innings.

Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano handled the Milwaukee lineup with relative ease in the first four innings, striking out eight, but he got roughed up in the fifth for five runs, giving up a 4-0 lead.

Zambrano allowed five runs on six hits in five innings. He struck out nine, but walked four.

Fontenot walked, stole second and scored on Theriot's two-out single in the second inning.

Fontenot led off in the fourth inning with an infield single and advanced to third on Bobby Scales' double. Zambrano helped himself out with a sacrifice fly. Theriot walked, then with two outs Lee hit a two-run double off the wall in left-center to put the Cubs up 4-0.

NOTES: The Cubs placed OF Alfonso Soriano on the 15-day disabled list after undergoing season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday. Soriano, who made seven straight All-Star games before missing out this year, struggled to hit .241 with 20 homers and 55 RBIs on the season. It was his lowest output for home runs since 2001. Manager Lou Piniella said the surgery was a success and expects Soriano to be ready for spring training. ... Lee and Theriot each had four walks for the Cubs. ... Brewers OF Frank Catalanotto had an RBI triple and scored a run in the ninth.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.