Cubs prevail but lose Soriano for six weeks

CHICAGO -- Just as the Chicago Cubs are on a roll with one of the best records in the majors, they are confronted with a staggering loss.

Standout leadoff hitter Alfonso Soriano could miss six weeks because of a broken bone in his left hand after he was hit by a pitch from Atlanta’s Jeff Bennett on Wednesday night.

“That’s a real bummer,� Chicago starter Ryan Dempster said after pitching a four-hitter for his first complete game since Sept. 25, 2002, as the Cubs beat the Atlanta Braves, 7-2.

“It’s hard to sit back and enjoy the victory when one of your best players, one of the leaders of your team, goes down. He’s proven in the past he’s a pretty darn quick healer,� Dempster added. “It’s up to the other guys to pick him up.�

After he was hit in the second inning, Soriano left the game and went to a hospital for X-rays. He will be in a splint for three weeks, Cubs spokesman Peter Chase said.

Soriano was on the DL earlier this season because of a calf injury -- the Cubs were 9-5 during his absence -- and returned to hit seven home runs in six games in one stretch last month.

For a team that has not won the World Series since 1908, the injury to Soriano was more bad luck. He entered the game with a .284 average, a team-high 15 home runs and 40 RBIs.