Soriano leads Cubs’ barrage in 7-2 win over Angels
CHICAGO — Alfonso Soriano hit two of the Cubs’ season high five home runs and Travis Wood earned his first win in nearly six weeks in Chicago’s 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.
Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro and Darwin Barney also homered for Chicago in the interleague game.
Wood (6-6) allowed four hits over 6 2-3 innings, with two walks and five strikeouts, to earn his first victory since May 30.
Wood, who was named to the National League All-Star team, retired 14 straight Angels from the start of the second inning until allowing a two-out single in the sixth. He gave up Albert Pujols’ two-run homer in the seventh and left with two runners on and two out.
Joe Blanton (2-11) went five innings, giving up eight hits, including four homers, and six runs with three walks and three strikeouts. He leads the majors in losses.
Rizzo and Soriano hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning with two outs, the second time this season they’ve done it.
Castro gave Chicago a 3-0 lead with his fifth homer in the third.
Barney’s fifth homer of the season came in the sixth after Dioner Navarro doubled and Nate Schierholtz was hit by a pitch. Blanton left trailing 6-0 after allowing Barney’s homer.
Soriano hit his 387th career home run and 15th of the year in the seventh off Michael Kohn. The Cubs hadn’t hit five homers in a game at Wrigley since Sept. 17, 2006.
Soriano entered the game red hot with a .381 batting average, six homers and 15 RBIs in his previous 10 contests.
Pujols ended Wood’s bid for a shutout with his 14th homer of the year, a two-run shot in the seventh.
The win left the Cubs 40-48. They haven’t been better in relation to .500 since May 31 when they were 23-30.
NOTES: Cubs manager Dale Sveum said right-hander Scott Baker could be back with the team in a month after an elbow injury put him on the DL. Baker had his fourth simulated game in a rehab stint on Tuesday and the next step is pitching in actual games. ... Cubs outfielder Brian Bogusevic will likely be available without limitation for the series against St. Louis starting Thursday. Bogusevic pulled left hamstring Thursday. . Starting catcher Welington Castillo, who missed Monday’s game with the White Sox due to dehydration, was available Tuesday but manager Dale Sveum wanted to hold him out one more day as a precaution. . After Tuesday, Pujols has 27 home runs against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, tying with Adam Dunn for most by an active opposing player. . Angels manager Mike Scioscia said left-hander Jason Vargas should begin throwing by the end of this week. He went on the 15-day DL June 18 with a blood clot in his left armpit. . Cubs right-hander Jeff Samardzija (5-8, 3.54) opposes Angels left-hander C.J. Wilson (8-6, 3.49) in the final game of the series Wednesday.