The biggest was that Piniella dropped left fielder Alfonso Soriano out of the leadoff spot for the first time all season. Soriano dropped to third, with shortstop Ryan Theriot moved up to the top spot.

Piniella wanted to take advantage of Theriot's .424 on-base percentage entering the game. He also wanted to put some pop into the middle of a lineup that has provided little power of late.

The Cubs got little power and had mixed results with the rest of it in a 4-3 loss to the Cardinals. Theriot went 0-for-5 in the top spot. Soriano was 1-for-4. His only hit, a double, came when he led off the eighth inning.

The other effects of the shakeup were Derrek Lee moving down from third to fifth and Aramis Ramirez moving up from fifth to fourth.

Soriano, who likes hitting first, said he'd go along with whatever Piniella wanted to do, especially if the Cubs are winning. Piniella said he wanted to "take a look at it and see how it works."

CARDINALS 4, CUBS 3: RHP Ryan Dempster pitched scoreless ball until the fifth, when the Cardinals scored three runs on three hits. Dempster made it through six innings, giving up seven hits and three runs. Carlos Marmol was charged with the loss after giving up one in the eighth. The Cubs scored all three runs in the seventh, but needed help from some sloppy defense by the Cardinals.