The big news Wednesday night wasn't Ryan Dempster's complete-game four-hitter and a 7-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
It was left fielder Alfonso Soriano breaking his left hand and being lost to the Cubs for approximately six weeks. Soriano was hit on the hand in the second inning by a pitch from Braves right-hander Jeff Bennett. The Cubs termed the injury a minimally displaced fracture of the fourth metacarpal. Soriano will wear a splint for three weeks, and the Cubs will go from there.
"He was just starting to run the way that we thought he would," manager Lou PIniella said. "He was playing well in the outfield, and he was hitting the ball for some power. It's a bad break for us, it really is."
The team will recall outfielder/infielder Micah Hoffpauir from Class AAA Iowa on Thursday. Originally, Hoffpauir was going to help with DH duties during interleague games, which begin Friday in Toronto.
With the Cubs carrying 13 pitchers, Piniella said they'll have to bring up another player Friday. The apparent choices are outfielder Matt Murton and infielder/outfielder Eric Patterson, both of whom saw time with the big club this year.
CUBS 7, BRAVES 2: Ryan Dempster tossed his first complete game since Sept. 25, 2002, as the Cubs won their third straight overall and their ninth straight at home. Dempster gave up four hits, throwing 119 pitches. Kosuke Fukudome hit a three-run homer in the first inning. Ryan Theriot had a two-run double.
