Soriano Prevents Three Game Skid With Eighth Inning Home Run

By: kevinhill

Alfonso Soriano has five home runs this year. Two have been as the first Cub hitter of the game. The other three have sent a game to extra innings and won two others. Not bad for a guy who shouldn’t be hitting first. I have read this argument over and over again. No, Alfonso Soriano isn’t the typical lead off hitter. Yet, if we drop him to third or fourth, is he hitting in these clutch situations late in the game? I think Lou is stuck on the righty lefty lineup so much that he is ignoring the fact that he shouldn’t be hitting Aramis Ramirez fifth. If we get stuck on the fact that Soriano struck out three times before this home run, and therefore isn’t the lead off man he should be, we are as guilty as Lou.

After the first inning, there is no lead off hitter. Soriano is dangerous and he needs to hit as high in the lineup as possible. I am as big a Ryan Theriot fan as there is, but if my choice is to get more at bats for Soriano, Fukudome, Ramirez, and Bradley I’ll take those any day. Your best hitters hit in the first four spots. Right now Lee needs to be dropped in favor of Ramirez. Soriano can have any of the four that he feels comfortable with.

Ramirez did have a nice day by the way. While all the highlights and headlines go to Soriano, it was Aramis who kept the Cubs kicking all game long. He had three hits and three rbi on the day, only leaving one runner stranded. Aramis has truly been the team leader early on this year. His average is mere percentage points away from tops on the team, while leading the team in rbi in two less games than his team mates.

Big Z had his fourth straight tough outing against the Cardinals. He gave up three home runs, including one to Brian Barden. Who is this guy? In two days he has five hits and two home runs against the Cubs. On Wednesday I didn’t know he existed. Granted, I am not the most well rounded MLB fan, but I would not have listed him on my guys to watch in this series.

Aaron Heilman ended up the beneficiary of Soriano’s heroics. He earned the win after throwing a scoreless eighth inning. Carlos Marmol earned the save in dramatic fashion. After walking the lead off hitter on four straight pitches, he hit Albert Pujols with his first pitch to him. Luckily, after a ball to Ryan Ludwick to make it six straight out of the strike zone, he found his groove. He struck out Ludwick on three straight and got Kahlil Greene to ground into a double play to end the game. Kevin Gregg, prepare for set up duty. It can’t be long before that becomes your role.