VENUE: Great American Ball Park
Alfonso Soriano led the Chicago Cubs on their push toward the postseason last September. He might be ready to do it again this year.
Coming off a three-homer game that helped snap the club's six-game losing streak, Soriano looks to stay hot while trying to lead the first-place Cubs to a winning road series against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday afternoon.
Soriano went 4-for-5 with a three-run homer and two solo shots in Chicago's 14-9 victory over the Reds on Saturday night. It was the All-Star's first three-homer game since June 8, 2007 at Atlanta and helped keep the Cubs (85-56) four games up on Milwaukee in the NL Central.
Last season, Soriano hit a club-record 14 home runs in September as Chicago went 17-12 during the month to win the Central title by two games over the Brewers.
While the Cubs have already exceeded their 85 wins from 2007 and own the NL's best record, Soriano could be heating up by batting .333 (7-for-21) with four home runs in five games this month.
"It's amazing," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "When he hits, our team seems to really respond and do well. I hope he gets another big September because we need it."
Mark DeRosa and pitcher Jason Marquis also homered Saturday for Chicago, which scored 14 total runs during its season-high six-game skid.
"The main thing is we've got to get our bats going," said first baseman Derrek Lee, who went 4-for-6 with three RBIs on his birthday.
The Cubs have a chance for another big day at the plate Sunday against Cincinnati's Aaron Harang (4-15, 5.24 ERA), who looks to avoid a third consecutive loss overall and fifth straight against Chicago.
Harang, who is 8-6 with a 4.87 ERA in 18 career starts versus Chicago, is 0-3 with a 7.27 ERA this season versus the Cubs.
The right-hander allowed three runs and five hits, including two more home runs, in six innings of a 3-2 loss to Pittsburgh on Tuesday and is 1-6 with a 7.63 ERA over his last nine starts. He has given up 31 homers on the season, second only to the 32 allowed by Houston's Brandon Backe.
"His velocity's still not quite where you want it to be," said Reds manager Dusty Baker of Harang, who has been bothered by a strained right forearm.
Chicago turns to Sean Marshall (3-4, 4.03) as he makes his second straight start in place of ace Carlos Zambrano, who is dealing with a sore shoulder but could pitch next weekend at Houston.
Marshall allowed five runs and nine hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 5-3 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday, dropping him to 1-4 with a 4.82 as a starter in 2008. The left-hander is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA as a starter against Cincinnati.
Jolbert Cabrera hit a grand slam in the ninth inning Saturday for Cincinnati (63-79), which made the game close by rallying for eight runs in the final two innings while facing four Chicago relievers.
Jeff Keppinger added two hits and is 4-for-10 with three runs scored in the series for the Reds, who have won five of their last eight.
Morning clouds. Warm.
