What a difference getting your leadoff hitter back makes, especially if that leadoff hitter is named Alfonso Soriano.
"It's a power threat at the top of the order that can steal bases when he gets on," teammate Reed Johnson said. Since Soriano came off the DL on July 23 after missing six weeks with a broken left hand, the Cubs have gone 7-2, outscoring their opponents 60-32. Soriano was on base five times Wednesday, and he hit his 18th homer of the season Thursday and his third since returning from the injury.
Soriano said his hand is feeling fine, and perhaps the six weeks off helped his troublesome legs, too.
He looks to be running the bases with abandon, and the stolen base may return to his repertoire down the stretch.
CUBS 11, BREWERS 4: Jim Edmonds hit two home runs, including a fourth-inning grand slam, as the Cubs swept the four-game series in Milwaukee. Rich Harden worked seven innings of six-hit, one-run ball to post his first victory with the Cubs. Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome added homers.
