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"We've shortened people up," Piniella said. "Everything has an effect. When you shorten up your starters, your bullpen gets used more. Truthfully, our bullpen can use a day off (Thursday)."
The most beleaguered reliever is right-hander Bob Howry, who has given up 13 hits and nine runs, including four homers, since the All-Star break.
Piniella may move Howry from late-inning to middle-inning work once righty Kerry Wood resumes his closer role. Carlos Marmol, the interim closer in Wood's absence, would return to being the main right-handed setup man.
CUBS 11, ASTROS 4: The Cubs erased a 4-1 deficit with an eight-run third inning. 2B Mark DeRosa hit a grand slam, and LF Alfonso Soriano added a three-run homer in the fourth. RHP Jason Marquis gave up a three-run homer to Carlos Lee to put the Cubs behind 4-1 in the top of the third, but Marquis hung in and wound up working 6 1/3 innings to even his record at 7-7.
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