5/4 Soriano's improved approach

Alfonso Soriano entered Tuesday’s game with a .325 batting average. He got a boost from the homestand when he went 8-for-20 with four home runs, two doubles and 10 RBIs.

“The four at-bats he had Sunday were the four best at-bats I’ve seen him have in one game since I can’t remember,” Lou Piniella said. “Not only did he hit the ball hard and hit the ball for power, but he laid off pitches, he worked the count. To me, how a hitter takes pitches is just as important as how he swings the bat. If he takes the pitches the right way, he’s seeing the pitches well and he’s in position to hit if needed to.”

Soriano was 3-for-4 on Sunday, hitting two home runs and a double, and driving in four. He also lined out hard i his last at-bat in the sixth.

“To his credit, he’s been working hard with our hitting coach [Rudy Jaramillo] and it’s starting to pay nice dividends for Alfonso and the baseball team,” Piniella said.

– Carrie Muskat