Josh Vitters gets first MLB career hit and RBI as Cubs lose seventh straight; Alfonso Soriano's swollen hand is latest injury to hit Cubs

The Cubs lost 7-4 to the San Diego Padres in the second game of the three-game series.  Brooks Raley was called up from Triple-A Iowa to make his first Major League start, but didn't fare too well as he allowed seven runs on eight hits and issued three walks.  He was pulled after throwing 89 pitches.

Brooks Raley made his major league debut against the Padres on Tuesday (photo from cubs.com)

Tonight marks the team's seventh loss in a row.  Raley gave up four runs in the third after getting through the first two innings without allowing any runs.  He then gave up a three-run homer in the fourth to put the Cubs in the hole 7-0.

Darwin Barney's RBI double in the fifth inning got the Cubs going.  Josh Vitters had his first major league hit and RBI in the seventh which advanced the score to 7-4.  It was nice to see his teammates signing a commemorative ball for Vitters during the game.

Third baseman Josh Vitters got his first Major League hit and RBI against the Padres Tuesday night (photo from cubs.com)

One semi-disturbing thing is that outfielder Brett Jackson struck out eight times and walked once in his last nine plate appearances.  Jackson needs to stop swinging at pitches that are balls and start swinging at pitches that would be strikes.  But I'm sure it's way easier said than done.

One interesting thing to point out is that this year's Cubs team has already had 46 different players on it this season, which is just five shy of the club's record, which was set in 2000.  Of the current 25-man roster, fifteen players are new to the Cubs this year.

One helpful thing is that a lot of the new Cubs are familiar with each other because they were teammates at Triple-A Iowa.  Pitcher Jeff Beliveau said, “We’ve had about six new guys here since I was called up (on July 22).  It’s nice playing with guys that you played with in the minor leagues.  It gives you that confidence.  I see them doing it, so why can’t I do it? It’s the same game.”

In other Cubs news, outfielder Alfonso Soriano was taken out of tonight's lineup due to swelling in his right hand as a result of his hand accidentally being hit by the Padres' second baseman Logan Forsythe while sliding into second base during Monday's game.

"I don't feel comfortable holding the bat," Soriano said.  "He tried swinging a bat and couldn't do it," said manager Dale Sveum.

Tomorrow the Cubs and Padres will play the final game in the series at 5:35pm CT.  Jeff Samardzija will start for the Cubs and try for his eighth win of the season.