(Sports Network) - The Cubs scored just as many runs on Wednesday than they had in their previous five tests total -- and that was all without Alfonso Soriano. Chicago will hope for another excellent offensive display this afternoon, as it plays the rubber match of a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs exploded offensively last night in a 19-5 victory over the Brewers, posting a season-high in runs while also pounding out 17 hits. Chicago had recorded just 19 runs total in losing four of its previous five games.

Geovany Soto belted a pair of three-run homers for a career-high six runs batted in. Aramis Ramirez and Ronny Cedeno -- who didn't even enter the contest until the sixth inning -- knocked in three runs apiece, and Mark DeRosa went 2-for-3 with three walks, three runs scored and two RBI.

The 19 runs were the most for the Cubs in a single game since May 5, 2001, when they pounded the Los Angeles Dodgers, 20-1. They scored at least five runs in three different innings on Wednesday.

Ryan Dempster (4-0) garnered plenty of run support to earn the win for the Cubs -- his second of the season against the Brewers -- by tossing six innings and giving up three runs on four hits and five walks.

Chicago's rolling offense will actually get a bit of a boost today, as Soriano should return from a stint on a disabled list. Soriano has been out since April 15 due to a right calf strain, and was hitting just .175 with two homers and five RBI prior to the injury.

Meanwhile, Jeff Suppan (1-1) struggled through 3 2/3 innings for Milwaukee, surrendering 11 runs -- eight earned -- on 11 hits and one walk. Derrick Turnbow allowed another six runs on four hits and four walks in just two- thirds of an inning in relief.

Ryan Braun ended 2-for-3 with a double and three runs batted in for the Brewers, who have lost four of six. Mike Rivera launched his first home run of the season -- a two-run shot -- and Rickie Weeks went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and three runs scored.

Yovani Gallardo aims to continue his successful return from knee surgery with his third start of the season today for Milwaukee. The 22-year-old didn't make his season debut until April 20 and has made a pair of solid outings since. However, the Brewers have failed to give him any run support, and the right- hander has posted two no-decisions.

Gallardo held the Reds to a run over seven innings on April 20 in his club's eventual 4-3 setback, and tossed seven scoreless innings on Friday versus Florida. However, the Brewers also failed to score in the 3-0 loss.

The righty faced the Cubs for the first time in his career on June 29 of last year, getting a no-decision. He gave up just two runs on five hits over six innings, while striking out seven in what was his third-career start.

Carlos Zambrano will try to win his fourth straight start when he toes the rubber for the Cubs. Zambrano has gone seven innings in each of his last three starts, and has yielded just three runs over that span, lowering his earned run average to 2.21 to go along with a 4-1 mark.

The right-hander last started on Saturday in Washington and threw seven shutout frames, working around five hits and a season-high four walks while fanning five.

The 26-year-old faced Milwaukee on March 31 and got a no-decision despite 6 2/3 shutout innings. He yielded just three hits -- a double to Bill Hall and a pair of hits to Tony Gwynn Jr. -- and struck out five.

Hall, though, is batting just .167 (6-for-36) in his career versus Zambrano with four RBI and 17 strikeouts.

Milwaukee won two of three from Chicago when the clubs met to open their respective seasons. The Cubs, though, took nine of 15 versus the Brewers last year.