Fukudome returned to the starting lineup Monday night, one day after hitting a pinch-hit, two-run homer in a 6-1 victory over the Nationals. Before the Sunday game, Piniella and hitting coach Gerald Perry watched tapes with Fukudome and worked to shorten his stride.

"We really didn't change anything dramatically," Piniella said. "All we did was shorten his stride, which is something that's relatively simple. It's not an overhaul of any kind. It's not changing anything at all, the stance or the way you hold your hands. It's just trying to get your foot down quicker so that you get a better look at the ball and you make a more compact swing."

Fukudome hit a sacrifice fly his first time up Monday and later added a two-run single, going the opposite way to left field. He doubled home a run in the ninth.

"During BP, I was able to work on that pretty good," Fukudome said. "But in the game, I don't think I was able to incorporate it 100 percent."

CUBS 12, PIRATES 3: The Cubs scored four times in the third inning and batted around in the fifth, scoring five runs. 3B Aramis Ramirez hit a three-run homer in the third. RF Kosuke Fukudome had a two-run single in the fifth. LHP Ted Lilly worked seven innings, giving up seven hits and three runs. Cubs batters piled up 17 hits.