Cubs 5, Giants 2
Alfonso Soriano homered for the second straight game and the visiting Chicago Cubs defeated the fading San Francisco Giants 5-2 on Tuesday.
The Giants have lost eight of their last 12 games to fall a season-high six games behind Arizona in the National League West.
Matt Garza (7-10) gave up two runs and struck out six over 6 2/3 innings. He also had his first career two-hit game.
Carlos Marmol tossed a scoreless ninth for his 31st save.
Geovany Soto doubled in two runs in the seventh, and Starlin Castro became the Cubs’ first shortstop with nine triples in a season since Ivan DeJesus had 10 in 1979.
Carlos Beltran, who has four RBIs in 19 games since joining the Giants, went 0-for-4 and left six runners on base. San Francisco has scored 12 runs in its last seven games.
The Giants' Ryan Vogelsong (10-5) fell to 1-4 in his last five starts after giving up three runs over five innings.