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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Soriano earns 40-40 club membership


 Washington's Alfonso Soriano has 45 home runs and 40 stolen bases this season. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

There’s a new member of the 40-40 club: Alfonso Soriano.

Soriano became the fourth player in major league history to record 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season when he swiped second Saturday night for Washington in the first inning against Milwaukee.

That gave Soriano 40 steals to go along with 45 home runs.

Jose Canseco (Oakland 1988), Barry Bonds (San Francisco 1996) and Alex Rodriguez (Seattle 1998) are the other players who have topped 40 in each of those categories in a single season.

Soriano came close in 2002, when he stole 41 bases and hit 39 home runs.

Soriano led off the bottom of the first with a single to left field. On a 2-0 count to the next batter, Felipe Lopez, Soriano raced for second base. Brewers catcher Mike Rivera double-clutched but did not attempt a throw.

After the steal, Soriano called time, removed the base and handed it to a groundskeeper. The game was held for a moment while the RFK Stadium crowd rose for a standing ovation, and Soriano tipped his helmet to the crowd.

Soriano stole his 39th base on Sept. 10 at Colorado but had stalled in his pursuit of 40-40.

In the next four games, Soriano had reached base five times but was caught stealing three times.

Cardinals lose closer

Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen likely will miss the rest of the season because of a bad left hip, said St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan.

Isringhausen has not pitched since Sept. 6, when he blew his career-high 10th save chance in 43 tries for the National League Central leaders.

The right-hander had hip surgery in October 2004 after posting a career-best 47 saves for the N.L. champions, and probably will need another operation. He’s signed for next year and the Cardinals have an option for 2008.

Minus the 34-year-old Isringhausen, La Russa will go with a combination of Braden Looper, formerly a closer for Florida and the New York Mets, and rookie Adam Wainwright.

Isringhausen has a team-record 173 saves in five seasons with St. Louis and 249 for his career.

Clearing the bases

Derek Jeter extended his hitting streak to 25 games, the longest for the New York Yankees since Joe Gordon’s 29-game string in 1942. Jeter went 1 for 5 in the opener of a day-night doubleheader, then singled in the third inning of the night game against Julian Tavarez. Jeter began the day leading the American League in hitting at .346, just ahead of Minnesota’s Joe Mauer. … Mariano Rivera threw 26 pitches in a bullpen session, the first time since Aug. 31 the Yankees closer worked off a mound. Rivera, sidelined by a muscle strain near his right elbow, is scheduled for another bullpen session Tuesday and could be pitching in games by the end of next week, Yankees manager Joe Torre said. … Oakland righty Rich Harden is scheduled to pitch for the first time in more than three months with a start Thursday against the Cleveland Indians. … Cincinnati Reds hitting coach Chris Chambliss was suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball for arguing balls and strikes. Chambliss was ejected in the ninth inning by plate umpire Rob Drake during Thursday’s 4-2 loss to San Diego.