VIDEO: Cubs' Soler caps 2nd-inning onslaught with mammoth home run

After being omitted from the lineup in Friday's series opener at Busch Stadium, Chicago Cubs rookie Jorge Soler wasted little time making his presence known in Game 2.

Soler, who walked in his ninth-inning pinch-hit plate appearance in Friday's 4-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, clobbered a two-run blast off Jaime Garcia in the second inning of Game 2 on Saturday, capping a five-run frame with his first career postseason home run.

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

“I just see him totally engaged right now,” manager Joe Maddon said. “That's the best way I can describe it. The coaching staff has done a wonderful job with him, especially Manny. I know Manny is in his ear all the time.”

Soler, starting in lieu of fellow rookie Kyle Schwarber, punctuated an altogether awful second inning for the Cardinals, and Garcia, in particular, whose one-out throwing error keyed five unearned runs and prompted manager Mike Matheny to summon Lance Lynn from the bullpen for the top of the third.

His two-out shot carried another distinction in addition to chasing Garcia from the contest, though, as Soler became just the fifth Cuban player in history to homer in his first career postseason start.