Soriano Hurt As Cubs Roll Past Padres

Chicago Cubs' Alfonso Soriano, second right, is helped off the field by athletic trainer Mark O'Neil and teammates Cesar Izturis, left, and Ryan Theriot, right, after getting injured while diving for a flyball during the fifth inning of a baseballl game on Monday, April 16, 2007, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jerry Lai) (Jerry Lai - AP)

CHICAGO -- The limp was clear as Alfonso Soriano dragged himself up the stairs, out of the clubhouse and into the night. His immediate future is a bit murky, though. On a night when the Chicago Cubs shook up their lineup, Soriano got shaken up.

He left in the fifth inning after injuring a hamstring while attempting a diving catch in the Cubs' 12-4 rout of the San Diego Padres on Monday.

"Yes, I don't like to get hurt," Soriano said, when asked if he's worried. "I know that I'm not going to be able to play tomorrow, so it's sad for me because ... I like to play every day. We'll see how I look tomorrow."

Chicago, which was 0-7 against the Padres last season, led 3-0 in the fifth when Clay Hensley (0-3) lofted a fly to shallow center with a runner on third and one out. Soriano raced in, dove and rolled over as he trapped the ball.

Soriano then got up and slipped while attempting a throw. Trainer Mark O'Neal tended to him, and Soriano walked off gingerly under his own power. The initial diagnosis was a strained left hamstring, and the Cubs hoped to know more after an MRI exam on Tuesday.

Even if the test reveals no tears, Soriano thought he would miss at least five days.

"I believe that it's not bad, it's not that bad," he said.

But when asked if the disabled list a possibility, Soriano wasn't quite as confident _ even though he the pain had subsided a bit.

"I don't know yet, but like I said, I feel a little better now than in the past," he said.

Soriano, who signed a $136 million, eight-year contract, and Jason Marquis were key components in the Cubs' offseason makeover.

Marquis (1-1) allowed one run in six innings to win for the first time in three starts since signing a $21 million, three-year contract with the Cubs.

"He was aggressive," San Diego's Adrian Gonzalez said. "He went after you, and we didn't take advantage of some mistakes that he did make. It was to his benefit."