CHICAGO — Alfonso Soriano is warming up, even if the weather isn’t. He looked like his old self Saturday and hopes he has put his season-long struggles behind him.
The Cubs star had four hits, including a go-ahead double in a six-run seventh inning, and showed some flair on the bases to help Chicago beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-2.
“I feel very comfortable now at home plate. My hands stayed back a little more now, and I wait for the ball,” Soriano said. “I’m glad I have a big day, more important that we won this game.”
Soriano’s 4-for-5 performance raised his average from .191 to .223. And slowed earlier this season by a calf injury that landed him on the disabled list, he twice raced home and scored with good slides to send the largest crowd of the season at Wrigley Field (41,597) into a tizzy.
“It happened twice today. I don’t like close plays because the catchers are very strong. I think I got safe on both plays,” he said.
Kosuke Fukudome’s first homer since opening day capped the seventh-inning rally as the Cubs won their second straight against the team that swept them in the first round of the playoffs in October.
After a strong performance by Diamondbacks rookie Max Scherzer, the Cubs trailed 2-1 heading into the seventh when they got to Arizona reliever Chad Qualls (0-4).
Qualls’ ERA jumped from 0.93 to 2.75 when he gave up four runs and four hits in one-third of an inning.
