Soto drives in seven as Cubs defeat Pirates 14-9

Soto, Soto, Soto. Geovany Soto was the man in the spotlight as he lead the Chicago Cubs to a 14-9 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Soto had Seven RBIs as the Cubs took game two of a three-game series in Pittsburgh. With the win the Cubs improved to 32 games above .500 for the first time since 1984.

The game didn't look bright for Cubs fans as the Pirates led off the first going up 3-0 with a RBI-double by Adam Laroche and a RBI-single by Freddy Sanchez.

The Cubs didn't respond until Derrek Lee drove in Soriano in the third inning and then in the fourth Geovany Soto doubled with the bases-loaded driving in three. Carlos Zambrano contributed with a single driving in Soto.

This was Zambrano's 13th consecutive start with a hit and eighth consecutive start where he drove in a run. Although Zambrano was unable to get the W against the Pirates when he had to leave after giving up six earned runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Pirates bounced back with one in the fourth to make it 5-4 with a RBI single.

Cubs answered with a double by Mark Derosa driving in one run.

In the bottom of the fifth Pirates tied the game 6-6 after a RBI-double by Jack Wilson. Followed by a fielder's-choice that drove in Freddy Sanchez

Soto had a solo shot in the sixth.

While Soriano tried to do his little hop in the sixth on a fly ball he dropped it which led to a two-RBI triple by Doug Mientkiewicz and an 8-7 lead for the pirates.

Cubs didn't respond until two innings later but when they did it was nothing little. After Craig Hansen walked in the tying and go-ahead run the Cubs bats erupted including another bases-loaded double by Geovany Soto. Cubs drove in seven giving them a 14-8 lead that they did not relinquish.

Pirates drove one more in the ninth but were not able to rally enough to pull in the win as the game ended with the Cubs winning 14-9. 

With the Cubs now have a five game lead over Milwaukee in the N.L. Central and have won 17 of 23 games in August.

The Cubs will go for the sweep on Wednesday at 12:35 ET.