Wells stays calm, works out of first-inning jam

When Randy Wells opened Saturday's game against the Astros by allowing the first two men he faced to reach base, no one could be blamed for thinking it looked like deja vu all over again.

The young righty, who has struggled early in games all season, was thinking the same thing.

“For a second there I thought, ‘Here we go again,'” said Wells (2-3). “I just tried to stay calm and make pitches.”

That he did, inducing Hunter Pence to fly out and ending the jam with strikeouts of Carlos Lee and Chris Johnson.

“I was able to make some key pitches and make some big outs,” Wells said. “It was good. That got me a little fired up and ready to go.”

The Sori story:

After going 2-for-4 Friday, including his first home run in over a month, Alfonso Soriano was upbeat and quick to credit an improved mental approach at the plate.

“I can't control the whole situation,” Soriano said. “I have to think about me and what I can do to help the team win.

“I can't think too much about the situation — just see the ball and do my job. When I think too much, I forget how to see the ball and forget how to hit.”

Cubs manager Mike Quade likes the new approach.

“There's a fine line between your thought processes and being up there thinking,” Quade said. “Normally, once you step in the batter's box, your mind better be clear because you're going to be a better player, a better hitter if it is.”

Things didn't go quite as well for Soriano on Saturday; he was 0-for-3 and was booed lustily after striking out in the seventh inning.

Random hops:Aramis Ramirez leads the majors with eight first-pitch home runs this season. ... Blackhawks assistant coach Mike Haviland was in attendance Saturday. #8230; Following this homestand, 35 of the Cubs' final 60 games will be on the road. #8230; The Cubs have 24 come-from-behind wins this season (T-7), but have lost 30 games in which they've had the lead #8212; that's most in the majors. The quote:#8220;He's not just been good, but consistently good.#8221;#8212; Mike Quade on Aramis Ramirez, who came into Saturday's game hitting .378 with 13 home runs and 27 RBI dating back to June 24.