Morning Box Score: Cubs Strike Down San Diego

By Matt Motyka in News on May 14, 2009 3:00PM

The Cubs produced a few thunderclaps of their own on Wednesday as they blasted four home runs en route to a rain-shortened, 6-4 victory over the San Diego Padres. San Diego struck first, riding Adrian Gonzalez's first-inning, two-run homer to an early lead. Alfonso Soriano was quick to respond, driving a fastball from Chris Young into the left-field bleachers to record the 53rd leadoff shot of his career. Newly emerged power-threat Ryan Theriot provided the encore when he launched the very next pitch into the stands, tying the game at two. Three innings later, Theriot hit another solo shot, but not before Geovany Soto finally got into the mix with a two-run dinger in the third, his inaugural homer of 2009. The power parade gave Cubs starter Ted Lilly a little breathing room, as Chicago led 6-2 headed into the sixth inning. Not to be outdone, Gonzalez hit another home run off Lilly--his fourth in three games--as the Padres closed to within three. San Diego would pick up another in the eighth, but Mother Nature sided with the Cubs as the game was called due to weather in the middle of the inning. Lilly finished the night with three runs and eight hits to his name in 6.1 innings of work, giving the lefty four quality starts this season. Now that the storms have passed, Chicago will look to complete the sweep at 1:20 this afternoon.