The Cubs got one of their injured players back Tuesday, and for one night, there was no lamenting who else was missing.
Milton Bradley, who has been out the better part of 2 1/2 weeks with a strained right groin, started for the first time since April 22, and he was only a bit player as the rest of the offense routed Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Yusmeiro Petit on the way to a 11-3 victory at Chase Field. The Cubs busted the game open in the middle innings, scoring 3 runs in the third and 4 in the fourth, when they sent 10 men to the plate.
Alfonso Soriano keyed the third with a 3-run homer, his second home run in two nights. Mike Fontenot also homered for the second time in two games as he added a 2-run shot in the fourth.
Cubs manager Lou Piniella presented the media in Phoenix with a mixed bag of injury news before the game.
Third baseman Aramis Ramirez had a down day with his strained left calf, and if it isn?t better by the time the Cubs return home Thursday night, Ramirez may have to go on the disabled list.
"Ramirez was out here early to run, but he couldn?t accelerate at all," Piniella told reporters. "The plan is for it to try it again Thursday, and if it isn?t better, we?ll have to weigh all our options."
First baseman Derrek Lee, who has a bulging disc in his neck that led to spasms, told writers he could play, but Piniella decided to hold him out at least one more game.
Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano worked 7 innings, giving up 8 hits and 3 runs while walking two and striking out three.
