Home, sweet home for Cubs
The Cubs are really warming up to this Wrigley Field place.
It hardly seemed to matter Monday night that the game-time temperature was 41 degrees with a biting wind coming in off Lake Michigan.
The Cubs simply stayed warm by running the bases all night during a 12-3 mashing of the warm-blooded San Diego Padres.
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Ten men went to the plate in both the fifth and sixth innings for the Cubs, who scored 6 in the fifth and 5 in the sixth to come back from a 2-1 deficit.
With the victory, the first-place Cubs improved to 23-15 overall and 15-6 at the ultra-Friendly Confines, where they didn't win their 15th last year until June 15, in their 33rd game at home.
"We've been swinging the bats very well at home, putting runs on the board," said manager Lou Piniella, whose team extended its winning streak to four. "When you do that, it makes it much easier on your pitching."
The Cubs rapped out 13 hits and walked nine times. Already leading the National League in on-base percentage coming into the game, the Cubs increased that figure to .375 and upped their run total to 223.
"Baserunners will score," Piniella said. "It's been the old adage: get 'em on, and get 'em in. When we do like tonight, our offense really looks potent and good. Tonight we were able to hit with men in scoring position. We were patient, took a few walks, put some runs on the board."
Much of the credit has gone to right fielder Kosuke Fukudome, who brought his disciplined approach at the plate with him from Japan.
"Getting on base is the key to the game, no matter how you do it," first baseman Derrek Lee said. "We've done a good job of that. We've also done a good job of bringing them around. Tonight was a good offensive night.
"I think we have good hitters. Good hitters tend to have good at-bats. We've had guys like Fukudome join our lineup, who's a professional hitter. (Geovany) Soto has come and done a great job. (Ryan) Theriot has a couple years experience under his belt now.
"We just have a lot of good hitters."
The Padres took a 2-1 lead on Cubs starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano in the fifth, when one-time Cub Jody Gerut homered to right. It was Gerut's first homer since May 24, 2005.
Zambrano (6-1) got a third-inning visit from trainer Mark O'Neal, but he was OK to keep going. It turns out a scab on Zambrano's pitching elbow was bothering him.
"It's still sore from the slide in Cincinnati," Zambrano said. "Everything was good today."
The cold also didn't seem to bother Zambrano.
"It's OK for me; I'm from Alaska," joked Zambrano, a native of Venezuela. "It's tough, man, especially for me. Venezuela is not this cold, not even close."
It was a good night for left fielder Alfonso Soriano, who hit a 2-run homer in the fifth after Zambrano led off with a double. Soriano added a leadoff double in the sixth.
"I feel more comfortable at home plate," said Soriano, who is 7-for-14 on the homestand. "I'm being more aggressive, but at the same time, being selective at home plate. I know that when I swing at strikes, I hit the ball very hard."
Cubs 12, Padres 3
At the plate: The Cubs sent 10 men to the plate in each of the fifth and sixth innings, when they combined for 11 runs. Alfonso Soriano hit his fourth homer of the year, a 2-run drive to left-center in the fifth. Soriano also doubled. Kosuke Fukudome walked three times, a career high. Pitcher Carlos Zambrano singled and doubled. Geovany Soto had a 2-run single in the fifth.
On the mound: Carlos Zambrano turned in his eighth "quality start" in 9 outings by working 7 innings and giving up 6 hits and 3 runs. He threw 96 pitches, 60 for strikes.
-- Bruce Miles