Soriano homers twice as Cubs beat Pirates

There's nothing like a workout with their personal punching bag (that would be the Pittsburgh Pirates) to make the Cubs feel better about themselves.

Take Friday's 7-4 exercise:

It was the seventh straight victory over the Pirates this season and the 10th straight dating to last season, something a Cubs team hasn't accomplished since 1890-91.

And it gave the first-place Cubs a 26-16 record for their best start since 1987, an 18-7 record at Wrigley Field and a 7-1 record on their longest homestand of the season.

But it doesn't stop there, not when the Pirates are involved. Several Cubs may want to keep them around for an extended stay.

One would be Sean Gallagher, who got his first major-league win with one-run ball over six innings and earned at least one more start.

Another would be Geovany Soto, who is hitting .536 with five doubles, two homers (including one Friday), eight walks and six RBIs in the seven Pittsburgh games.

Add Alfonso Soriano to the list. He hit the first pitch for his 47th homer to start a game and his third in four days. He also hit a three-run homer his second time up to account for four of the Cubs' runs.

The rest was a breezily painless afternoon for the Cubs and 40,537 sun-splashed fans

"Breathtaking," Gallagher said. "No words really come to mind. I'm just thankful to be here."

Gallagher, whose first start last Sunday came in an emergency role, looked right at home Friday, so much that manager Lou Piniella will give him a third start Wednesday against Houston even though Piniella wants to add a left-handed starter soon.

"It's pretty simple: If you're pitching well and you're getting people out, you're going to get the ball," Piniella said. "If he continues to pitch well, he'll stay in the rotation."

Gallagher, whose ERA as a starter is 1.74, got the game ball from closer Kerry Wood (save No. 9).

"It's going to my dad (Paul)," Gallagher said. "It's only right. He's the one who basically got me here. He's the one who pushed me when I was little. I'm just happy he could be here."

Gallagher acknowledged that it was nice to work with a 3-0 lead after one inning, thanks to Soriano and Soto homers, and with a 6-0 lead after two, thanks to Soriano's second home run.

"After that it just took a load off my shoulders," he said. "I could just throw the ball across the plate."

Gallagher left with a 7-1 lead, thanks to a Mark DeRosa homer, and watched it go to 7-4 when Bobby Howry was lit up for two homers in the eighth inning.

The early work of Soriano, who is hitting .316 in his last 23 games, was key.

"When he lays off bad pitches he puts the meat of the bat on the ball with consistency," Piniella said. "When that happens, quite a few of them leave the ballpark."

Soriano says he has his confidence back.

"I've been working every day with hitting coach [Gerald Perry]," he said. "My hands feel comfortable at home plate. Sometimes I try to be too quick."

If there is any worry about the Cubs' fast start, it's that their road record is only 8-9. But there's encouraging news: They play three games in Pittsburgh next weekend.

dvandyck@tribune.com

Related topic galleries: Kerry Wood, Sean Gallagher, Lou Piniella, Geovany Soto, Wrigley Field, Mark Derosa, Major League Baseball

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