Soriano Homers Twice, Cubbies Beat Pirates

Alfonso Soriano homered in his first two at-bats, Geovany Soto and Mark DeRosa also homered and the surging Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-4 Friday for their seventh win in eight games. Soriano connected on the first pitch from Tom Gorzelanny for his third leadoff homer in four games and launched a three-run shot in the second inning, making it 6-0.

Sean Gallagher (1-0) earned his first major league win in his second start for Chicago. He allowed one run and four hits before pitcher Carlos Zambrano pinch-hit for him in the sixth. Soto capped a three-run first with a solo homer, and DeRosa added one in the sixth inning. Chicago won its 10th straight overall against the Pirates, including 7-0 this year. (More baseball stories.)