Cubs suffer knockout blow

Chicago tops Atlanta, but loses star Soriano

The Cubs' Alfonso Soriano is expected to miss up to six weeks after getting hit by this Jeff Bennett pitch. (JERRY LAI/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The Chicago Cubs won the game, but suffered a big loss along the way.

The National League Central leaders beat visiting Atlanta, 7-2, last night, but lost star Alfonso Soriano for up to six weeks with a broken left hand after he was hit by a pitch.

"A bad break for us. Just an unfortunate thing," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "It's a shame, it really is. Things happen in baseball."

Soriano was hit by Atlanta starter Jeff Bennett in the second inning, left the game, and went to a hospital for X-rays.

Soriano will be in a splint for three weeks, Cubs spokesman Peter Chase said.

Ryan Dempster (8-2) pitched a four-hitter and struck out 11 in his first complete game since Sept. 25, 2002, when he led Cincinnati over the Cubs.

Dempster, the closer-turned-starter, is now 8-0 this season at Wrigley Field. The Cubs improved to 28-8 at home this year.

Kosuke Fukudome hit a three-run homer in the first off spot starter Bennett (0-4). Pinch hitter Corky Miller had a two-run homer for the Braves.

Atlanta's Chipper Jones, who didn't start the last two games because of a small tear in his right quadriceps, went 1 for 3 and his average dropped a point to .419. He was not able to run at full speed and left the game after striking out in the top of the sixth.

For a team that has not won the World Series since 1908, the injury to Soriano was startlingly bad luck. He entered the game with a .284 average, a team-high 15 homers, and 40 RBIs.

Mets 5, Diamondbacks 3 - Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer with two outs in the 13th inning, and host New York overcame a blown save by Billy Wagner to snap a five-game losing streak.

The Mets chased Brandon Webb early and took advantage of a key error by third baseman Mark Reynolds, who tied it by hitting a three-run shot off Wagner with two outs in the ninth inning, his fourth blown save in 17 chances.

That cost Mike Pelfrey a win in the best outing of his career. Looking for his first win in 10 starts, Pelfrey outpitched Webb and took a four-hit shutout into the ninth.

Rangers 11, Royals 5 - David Murphy hit two home runs, including his first career grand slam, and drove in a career-high five runs to help Texas win at Kansas City.

Texas trailed, 5-1, after six innings, but sent 10 men to the plate in a seven-run seventh, matching its biggest inning of the season.

Angels 4, Rays 2 - Gary Matthews Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero homered, Maicer Izturis hit a go-ahead single, and host Los Angeles snapped Scott Kazmir's six-game winning streak.

John Lackey (3-1) allowed two runs and four hits over 7 1/3 innings, striking out seven and walking two.

Kazmir (6-2) allowed three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

Athletics 8, Yankees 4 - Jack Cust drove in three runs and host Oakland roughed up Darrell Rasner early.

Cust hit a two-run single during a six-run burst in the third inning. Rasner (3-4) lost his fourth straight start

Marlins 6, Phillies 2 - Dan Uggla hit a game-ending grand slam with one out in the ninth inning and host Florida beat Philadelphia for its second win in as many nights against the NL East leader.

Jorge Cantu homered twice for the Marlins off Cole Hamels, who was nearly flawless otherwise. Hamels struck out 13 in eight innings.

Rockies 1, Giants 0 - Garrett Atkins slid home on Yorvit Torrealba's sacrifice fly in the ninth inning, giving host Colorado the victory.

Atkins was initially called out by plate umpire Fieldin Culbreth. But then Culbreth saw that Giants catcher Bengie Molina had dropped the ball while making a swipe tag and ruled Atkins safe.

Tigers 5, White Sox 1 - Justin Verlander (3-9) pitched a four-hitter for his third career complete game and Marcus Thames hit a three-run homer to lead host Detroit over Chicago.

Mariners 2, Blue Jays 1 - Raul Ibañez singled home the winning run in the ninth inning, Felix Hernandez (5-5) worked eight strong innings, and Seattle won at Toronto.

Pirates 3, Nationals 1 - Ryan Doumit homered for the third time in two games and Ian Snell allowed only one run while pitching into the seventh inning, helping host Pittsburgh top Washington.

Padres 4, Dodgers 1 - Randy Wolf combined with two relievers on a five-hitter, and rookie Edgar Gonzalez and Khalil Greene hit solo homers to lead host San Diego over Los Angeles.

Cardinals 10, Reds 0 - Rick Ankiel and Jason LaRue homered off Johnny Cueto (5-6), and Braden Looper (8-5) pitched a three-hitter for his first career shutout, leading St. Louis at Cincinnati.

Brewers 10, Astros 6 - Corey Hart hit two of Milwaukee's season-high five home runs and the Brewers snapped a five-game losing streak at Houston.

Twins 8, Indians 5 - At Cleveland, Justin Morneau drove in three runs to help Minnesota snap a six-game losing streak.