Soriano blast lifts Cubs to seventh straight win

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Alfonso Soriano's solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning helped the Chicago Cubs complete a 3-2 rally over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, their seventh straight victory.

Chicago had 2-0 in the top of the fifth before producing a single run in each of the next three innings with Soriano's blast, his 23rd of year, coming off Phillies reliever Clay Condrey (3-4), who took the loss.

The National League-leading Cubs (85-50) are peaking at the right time heading into what seems to be a certain post-season berth.

"I played with the Yankees and we have the same talent here," Soriano told reporters. "Here, this group is more important. We feel like family here."

Philadelphia (73-62) fell two games behind the New York Mets in the National League East with their third defeat in a row.

In a close play at first base during the seventh, Ryan Howard was called out on a slow roller he hit to the infield and the Phillies were still ruing the call after the game as they would have scored a run from third had the first baseman been safe.

"It changed the outcome of the game," said Howard, who had an RBI single in the fifth. "Instead of being down 3-2, they got out of the inning."

Left fielder Pat Burrell put his team on top early with an RBI single in the first inning. Burrell finished 2-for-4.

Chicago starter Rich Harden pitched five innings and struck out five in the no-decision. Harden, who is 7-2 since being traded to the Cubs from the Oakland Athletics last month, looked to be in line for the loss but watched his offense claw back.

The Cubs managed just four hits for the game but scratched across a run in the fifth on a fielder's choice, and Kosuke Fukudome drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth to tie the game 2-2.

(Reporting by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by John O'Brien)