Soto, Theriot show they belong

PHOENIX -- Of the nine Cubs who started Wednesday in Game 1 of the National League Division Series, seven players had playoff experience.

Two players -- shortstop Ryan Theriot and catcher Geovany Soto -- did not.

There weren't many bright spots in the Cubs' 3-1 loss to Arizona in Game 1 at Chase Field, but the two wet-behind-the-ears players showed they wouldn't wilt under the spotlight.

Both were instrumental in the Cubs' lone run of the game in the sixth, which knotted things up at 1. Soto showed patience and drew a walk from Arizona's Brandon Webb to help load the bases before Theriot's infield single scored Derrek Lee for what looked like a momentum-shifting run.

One inning earlier, Theriot led off and reached second base on an error, but the Cubs left him stranded. He finished 1-for-4.

Theriot, 27, was downcast after the Cubs lost the game but brightened momentarily when asked if he savored the moment before the game of actually making it to the playoffs.

"Of course, the first thing I did was look around before the game," he said. "This is it. This is why we work so hard all year. It was great."

Theriot came out of spring training as a backup infielder but soon overtook veteran Cesar Izturis for the starting shortstop job.

The Louisiana native has always tried to keep an even-keel approach to his game no matter how big the stage. Wednesday was a challenge.

"Man, the introductions are different -- a lot like Opening Day," Theriot said. "It's exciting. But once that game starts you have to keep things as normal as possible. You don't want to change anything or add any extra pressure on yourself. You just want to go out and play your game. Get good at-bats. Play good defense. Control the things you can.

"That's the way I've always done it. No sense in changing right now. The crowd can get to some players but I think we were pretty well prepared for that all year."

Soto took a different route to the playoffs.

The 24-year-old played most of the season (save a brief call-up after the All-Star break) at Triple-A Iowa, where he won the Pacific Coast League MVP honor after hitting .353 with 26 homers and 109 RBI.