Chicago, IL -- (Sports Network) - Alfonso Soriano went 3-for-5 with two home runs, a double and five runs batted in as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-5, in the middle of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.

Derrek Lee chipped in with four hits, including a solo homer, and Aramis Ramirez belted a two-run shot for the Cubs, who have won three in a row and nine of their last 11. Chicago is currently in first place in the NL Central, 2 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee. The Brewers lost 4-3 in 11 innings to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday.

Rich Hill (10-8) earned the win over five innings of work. The left-hander gave up three runs on five hits while striking out four and walking a pair.

Nate McLouth had a solo homer, his 13th of the season for Pittsburgh, which has dropped eight straight games.

Zach Duke (3-8) struggled through four innings, surrendering five runs -- four earned -- on nine hits, while fanning four and walking three. The veteran lefty also had a two-run single in the contest, while Freddy Sanchez chipped in with a run-scoring triple and Matt Kata knocked one in with a double for the Bucs.

After Hill set down the Pirates in the top of the first, the Cubs went to work in the home half of the frame. Lee's solo shot to left, his 19th of the season got Chicago on the board first. Ramirez and Matt Murton then followed with base hits, putting runners on first and second with two down and Geovany Soto's infield single plated another after Sanchez's error allowed a run to score, giving the home team the early advantage.

The Bucs, however, came back in the second to score three. With runners on first and second and one out, Kata's double to right scored a run and Duke stepped up to the plate and grounded a two-run single to left to put Pittsburgh ahead 3-2.

Soriano's solo blast to right in the bottom of the second tied the score.

Chicago reclaimed the lead in the third when Ramirez's two-run, line-drive homer to left plated Lee, who led off the inning with a base hit.

Ryan Theriot reached on a one-out single in the fifth and scored two batters later when Soriano hammered his second home run of the contest -- and 31st of the campaign -- to give Chicago a 7-3 advantage.

The Cubs also got a pair of insurance runs in the seventh when Jacque Jones and Theriot reached base with one-out singles. After Daryle Ward was called out on strikes, Soriano's big day continued when the left fielder ripped a two-run double to left to make it a 9-3 game.

"I think I got my timing at the right time," Soriano said. "It's September and the team needs the offense. I think this is the best moment I had this year."

Sanchez's three-base hit to right in the eighth made it 9-4.

Ryan Dempster came in for the ninth and retired the first two batters, before surrendering a solo homer to McLouth. The Chicago closer then got Nyjer Morgan to ground out to first base to end the game.

Game Notes:

Chicago left nine runners on base, while the Pirates stranded five...The Cubs set a single-season attendance record by reaching 3,211,098 fans in their 80th home game this year, surpassing the previous record of 3,170,184 set in 2004.