Soriano: 'I have my confidence back'

Alfonso Soriano has been working with hitting coach Gerald Perry on keeping his hands back.

Now it's time to consider moving Wrigley Field's fences back. Things have become far too easy for Soriano within the last week.

"I have my confidence back," Soriano said. "Now I feel like I want to feel."

And the Cubs' leadoff man is in the midst of one of the biggest tears of his career.

Soriano drilled Tom Gorzelanny's first pitch down the left-field line for a home run Friday afternoon -- his third leadoff homer in the last four games -- and he parachuted a 3-run shot into the left-center field basket in the second inning.

Not only did that give the Cubs what they needed for a 7-4 win Friday afternoon, it gave Soriano 5 homers in a stretch of 19 plate appearances over a 90-hour period.

And if you turn back the clock a few days more, Soriano has gone 14-for-28 (.500) with 7 extra-base hits, 9 runs and 11 RBI since last Saturday's win over Arizona.

His batting average has leaped from .191 to .265, his on-base percentage from .240 to .304 and his slugging percentage from .337 to .521.

"I think I'm hot now because I swing at strikes," Soriano said. "When I swing at strikes, no matter if it's the first pitch, second pitch, third pitch, I think I'm going to hit the ball hard."

Including his first-inning single Thursday, Soriano has led off four games in a row with a hit.

If he greets Pittsburgh starter Zach Duke the same way today, he'll tie the best streak of his career. Soriano sparked the Cubs' fast finish last year when he delivered leadoff hits in five straight games from Sept. 2-6.

Gorzelanny made it easy for Soriano to run his streak to four on Friday.

"I said to myself, 'If he throws a first-pitch fastball down the middle, I've got to swing because that's my zone,' " Soriano said.

His recent move into the "zone" has coincided with his work with Perry.

"Sometimes I try to be too quick, have quick wrists so I don't have to stride too much," Soriano said. "I have to see the ball and stay with my hands back and swing the bat."

On a roll

May 16: 2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 runs, 4 RBI

May 15: 2-for-5, 1 run

May 14: 2-for-5, 1 HR, 1 run, 3 RBI

May 13: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 1 run, 1 RBI

May 12: 2-for-5, 1 HR, 1 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBI

May 11: Did not start; drew intentional walk as pinch-hitter

May 10: 4-for-5, 1 2B, 2 runs, 1 RBI

Totals: 14-for-28 (.500) with 5 HRs and 11 RBI