Chicago, IL – Alfonso Soriano clubbed three hits, including a go-ahead two-run blast in the sixth to help the Cubs down the Padres, 11-7, in the opener of a three-game series on Monday at Wrigley Field.
Soriano finished with three RBI and scored twice, Ian Stewart and Starlin Castro each added two-run homers and three RBI and Darwin Barney smacked a solo shot as the Cubs put the brakes on a 12-game skid.
"It's been two weeks since we won a game," remarked Stewart. "A lot of guys are a little more relaxed in here. It's just a better feeling in the clubhouse."
Randy Wells (1-1) got the win despite allowing one run on three hits in just 1 2/3 innings in relief of starter Travis Wood, who surrendered six runs on seven hits and three walks over five frames.
Alex Hinshaw (0-1) absorbed the loss after serving up Soriano's two-run blast in the sixth. Jeff Suppan went five innings in the start, yielding six runs on six hits as the Padres dropped their fourth straight contest.
Chase Headley homered twice and knocked in three runs while Carlos Quentin went 1-for-4 with an RBI in his first game with the Padres after missing the first 49 games of the season while recovering from surgery on his right knee.
"When it's hot and you come here and the wind's blowing, you're going to be rewarded for good swings," remarked Headley about his two home run game.
After a double from Will Venable gave the Friars a 7-6 edge in the top of the sixth, Chicago responded in the bottom half as Bryan LaHair worked a leadoff walk before Soriano crushed his sixth of the year over the bleachers in left field to give the Cubs a one-run lead.
Castro's two-run blast in the seventh extended the margin to 10-7 before Stewart made it a four-run margin with an RBI single to score LaHair.
Earlier in the game, Quentin made his first plate appearance as a Padre worthwhile, lacing a two-out double into left field to score Chris Denorfia from third and give San Diego a 1-0 edge.
The Cubs responded with two in the bottom half as David DeJesus tripled to start the frame and Castro plated him with a single. Castro then swiped second, moved to third on a bunt and scored on a groundout from LaHair to give Chicago a 2-1 lead.
Barney's solo shot in the second made it a 3-1 game, but Venable answered in the third with a solo shot of his own to cut the difference in half.
San Diego used a pair of solo homers to jump in front in the fourth. Headley tied the game with a leadoff homer to center field before Everth Cabrera put the Padres on top with his first of the season two batters later.
Chicago battled back in the bottom half as LaHair started the frame with a double and quickly scored on Soriano's double to left to tie the game.
Stewart then provided the Cubs with a two-run lead when he crushed the 10th pitch of his at-bat over the wall in center field to make it 6-4, but the lead was short-lived, as Headley clubbed a two-out, two-run homer in the top of the fifth for his second of the day to knot the game, 6-6.
Game Notes
The Padres acquired Quentin in the offseason from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor league pitchers Simon Castro and Pedro Hernandez...Yonder Alonso's hit streak ended at 10 games with an 0-for-5 performance...San Diego went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.
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