Soriano hits long homer as Cubs top Giants 5-2

[August 31, 2011]  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Alfonso Soriano knew it was gone the moment he hit it. He was too busy running the bases to admire it or see how far it went.

Soriano drove in two runs and hit one of the longest homers at AT&T Park, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 5-2 win over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night.

"I had very good contact on it and there was no doubt about it was a home run," Soriano said. "I didn't think the ball would go that far. I'm just feeling good at the plate the last couple of games."

Geovany Soto added a two-run double and Darwin Barney also drove in a run for the Cubs, who won their second straight.

"We're playing very relaxed," Soriano said. "We want to finish strong and feel good going into winter."

Jeff Keppinger had three hits and drove in two runs for the Giants, who lost their third in a row to fall a season-high six games behind Arizona, which beat Colorado 9-4, in the NL West.

"It's a lot more fun having somebody trying to play spoiler against you," Cubs' manager Mike Quade said. "It's always fun to play well and compete against teams that have something to play for."

Matt Garza (7-10) lasted 6 2-3 innings in his first appearance against the Giants. He allowed two runs on nine hits, walking one and striking out six. Carlos Marmol pitched the ninth for his 31st save in 39 chances.

"People damaged our playoff hopes for the first four months," Garza said. "I'm fine with paying it back. If we're not in it, we might as well play the spoilers."

Ryan Vogelsong (10-5) lost his third straight start in his shortest outing since May 3. He gave up three runs on seven hits over five innings, walking two and striking out three.

Sean Marshall recorded his 29th hold -- on his 29th birthday -- and is one shy from matching Marmol's club record in 2008.

The stagnant Giants failed to score more than three runs for the sixth consecutive contest and have scored two or fewer in 24 of their last 44 games since the All-Star break.

Carlos Beltran, acquired in a trade from the New York Mets in an attempt to bolster the offense, was 0 for 4, ending the third, fifth and seventh innings with a pair of runners on each time.

Soriano's second-inning solo shot traveled an estimated 445 feet, bouncing onto the concourse above the left-field bleachers. Only Andres Galarraga has hit one further to left field, an estimated 475 feet on Sept. 18, 2001 off Roy Oswalt.

Barney and Soriano each drove in runs in the third to make it a 3-0 lead.

After Keppinger doubled home a run in the fifth to pull the Giants to 3-1, the Cubs added two more on Soto's ground rule double with the bases loaded. Only fan interference prevented the Cubs from tacking on another run.

Keppinger's double was the Giants' ninth extra-base hit in the first eight games of the homestand. He added an RBI single in the seventh.

NOTES: Starlin Castro's nine triples are the most by a Cubs player since Ivan DeJesus had 10 in 1979. ... The Cubs lead the NL with 39 home runs in August. ... LHP Madison Bumgarner pitches Wednesday for the Giants. He's reached the seventh inning in each of his past five starts. Bumgarner is 1-1 in three starts vs. the Cubs. ... RHP Rodrigo Lopez will go for the Cubs in Wednesday's series finale. He's lost his last two starts and is winless in seven starts against the Giants. ... Garza had two hits, his first career multi-hit game, and has five hits on the year. ... The Giants have scored 74 runs in August, their fewest in the month since at least 1946.

[Associated Press]

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