SEATTLE -- Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run homer in the 11th inning to lift the Chicago Cubs to a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday. Nate Schierholtz opened the 11th with a drag bunt off Oliver Perez (2-2). Soriano then connected on a 1-2 pitch over the centre-field wall, his ninth. That ended a 14-game scoreless streak for Perez. The Mariners had tied the game with two outs in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Henry Blanco earned a one-out walk off Kevin Gregg to start the rally. Michael Saunders ran for him. Nick Franklin moved Saunders to second with a right-side groundout. Endy Chavez, on a 0-for-19 slide entering his at-bat, sliced a single into shallow centre, scoring Saunders with the tying run. Gregg had been a perfect 13 for 13 in save opportunities this season. His last blown save was Sept. 10, 2011, while with Baltimore at Toronto. Carlos Villanueva (2-4) earned the win with one inning of relief. Blake Parker finished the 11th for his first career save. He had been the losing pitcher in Fridays 5-4 loss in 10 innings. Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija allowed six hits and two runs over his seven innings. He struck out five and walked three. Aaron Harang worked eight innings for the Mariners, allowing three runs on five hits. In three starts against National League teams this season, Harang is 1-2 with a 1.96 ERA. By contrast, he is 2-6 with a 6.52 ERA in starts against American League teams. Starlin Castro also had a home run for the Cubs and Justin Smoak hit one for the Mariners. Mariners centre fielder Dustin Ackley had to leave the game in the ninth after a diving attempt of a flyball by Soriano. He was diagnosed with sprained left thumb and received precautionary X-rays. Jason Bay, who had entered as a pinch runner in the eighth, moved to centre as the Mariners, hampered with injuries, used up all their bench players and were forced to give up their designated hitter. Left-hander Joe Saunders had to hit in the games final at-bat. He flied out to centre. Castro put the Cubs up in the first with his solo home run to centre. It was his fourth, coming on a 0-1 pitch from Harang. It was his first home run since April 30 against San Diego. The Cubs have hit at least one home run in a season-high nine straight games. The Mariners responded with two in the second. Smoak connected on his sixth home run, a 383-foot shot to right on the first pitch from Samardzija. Mike Zunino then doubled off the left-field wall. He scored on Ackleys single to left. That broke his 0-for-23 slide. The Cubs bounded ahead again in the sixth with a pair of runs. Schierholtz and Soriano each had RBI singles. The Mariners were foiled in the eighth. With one out, Kendrys Morales singled and Bay ran for him. Bay broke for second as reliever James Russell tossed over to first and Bay was caught stealing. Raul Ibanez continued the inning with a two-out double to left. Smoak followed with a single to left that was too hard. Left-fielder Brian Bogusevic scooped up the ball and threw to the catcher Welington Castillo, who tagged out the sliding Ibanez. NOTES: Finishing games have been a problem for the Cubs. They are 26-9 when leading after seven and 28-6 when leading after eight. Seattle, by contrast, is 30-1 when leading after seven and 30-2 when leading after eight. "Its been tough all year to get those outs, whether its the eighth or ninth inning, especially after leading so many games after seven innings," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "We have to make pitches and get people out in those situations." The Cubs have lost 24 games in which theyve had the lead at some point, tied for most in the majors. . Ryan Sweeney left the game in the fourth inning with left rib soreness. . It was a Turn Back the Clock game. The Mariners wore the uniform of the 1909 Seattle Turks, who won a Northwest League championship. The Cubs wore early 1900s replicas. Max Kepler Jersey . Kadri was dressed in a green jersey at Thursdays practice and skated as an extra forward on the teams fourth line as the Leafs. Marwin Gonzalez Twins Jersey . It will be their 15th head-to-head meeting and fourth in the post-season (Sunday at 2pm et/11am pt on CTV) and for his part, Brady isnt downplaying just how big the game is for him. "Im excited - Its everything you could ask for as an athlete," the New England Patriots quarterback told WEEI Radio in Boston on Monday. http://www.twinssale.com/customized/. Belfort was originally schedule to fight Chris Weidman at UFC 173 on May 24, but a Nevada State Athletic Commission ban on testosterone replacement therapy forced the former light heavyweight champ to withdraw. Kirby Puckett Jersey . 98 jersey in a game yet, and already its a big seller. Michael Pineda Jersey . The Braves optioned outfielder Jose Constanza to Triple-A Gwinnett. As expected, the Braves also called up right-hander Julio Teheran from Gwinnett to start Sundays game and optioned backup catcher J.The Montreal Alouettes will have to wait on draft pick David Foucault. According to the University of Montreal Carabins Twitter account, the offensive lineman signed a contract with the NFLs Carolina Panthers on Saturday. "Foucault just signed a contract with the Carolina Panthers!" read the tweet. The University of Montreal product weent to Panthers camp on a tryout basis without a contract.dddddddddddd "Congratulations David Foucault! Good luck in your journey. We will leave the front porch light on for you," said Alouettes general manager Jim Popp on his Twitter account. Foucault was drafted fifth overall by the Alouettes in this weeks CFL Draft. ' ' '