Alfonso Soriano’s two solo home runs were the difference as the Chicago Cubs topped the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Tuesday.

Soriano hit his first one in the fourth to double the Cubs’ lead to 2-0. After Pittsburgh’s Ryan Doumit hit his own homer in the fifth to cut the lead to 2-1, Soriano restored Chicago’s two-run advantage with his second blast an inning later.

The offense was enough for Cubs starter Ted Lilly, who yielded just the one run in seven innings. He allowed six hits, one walk and struck out five. Lilly (3-6) has now allowed three runs or less in seven of his last eight starts.

Carlos Marmol worked a perfect ninth for his 14th save.

Jeff Karstens was the unlucky loser for Pittsburgh. He gave up three runs – two earned – in six innings to see his record drop to 2-3.

Chicago got their first run in the second inning, when Koyie Hill scored on a Starlin Castro sacrifice fly.