CHICAGO — A costly win for the Chicago Cubs.

The NL Central leaders beat Atlanta 7-2 today, but lost star leadoff hitter Alfonso Soriano for up to six weeks with a broken left hand after he was hit by a pitch.

"A bad break for us. Just an unfortunate thing," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "It's a shame, it really is. Things happen in baseball."

Soriano was hit by Atlanta starter Jeff Bennett in the second inning, left the game and went to a hospital for X-rays.

Soriano will be in a splint for three weeks, Cubs spokesman Peter Chase said.

Ryan Dempster (8-2) pitched a four-hitter and struck out 11 in his first complete game since Sept. 25, 2002, when he led Cincinnati over the Cubs.

Dempster, the closer-turned-starter, is now 8-0 this season at Wrigley Field. The Cubs improved to 28-8 at home this year.