Cubs 6, Padres 2
Alfonso Soriano blasted a go-ahead, three-run homer in the top of the eighth inning and the visiting Chicago Cubs rallied to beat the San Diego Padres 6-2 on Tuesday.
Matt Garza (10-10) earned the win after giving up two runs while striking out eight over seven innings.
Kyle Blanks doubled in two runs in the second inning off Garza, who was coming off back-to-back, nine-inning efforts. He has not allowed more than three earned runs in each of his last 11 starts.
Chicago third baseman Aramis Ramirez blasted a solo home run in the fourth inning in his first game after missing the past week with a right quad strain.
The Cubs added to their lead in the ninth inning on Blake DeWitt’s two-run single off Andrew Carpenter.
Padres starter Anthony Bass, who began the year in Double-A, gave up one run over five innings and finished the season with a 1.68 ERA in 48 1/3 innings.
Starlin Castro went 2-for-5 to extend his career-best run of reaching base to 39 straight games. The 21-year-old shortstop is set to become the youngest player to lead the National League in hits.