--LF Alfonso Soriano was activated from the 15-day disabled list, and the Cubs optioned OF Matt Murton to Class AAA Iowa. Soriano went on the DL April 16 with a strained right calf. He was 0-for-4 in Thursday's 4-3 loss the Brewers, as his batting average fell to .164.
--RHP Carlos Zambrano's home run Thursday was the 13th of his career, tying him for the club record with RHP Ferguson Jenkins. Zambrano got a no-decision Thursday, but his ERA fell from 2.21 to 2.11. --C Geovany Soto had 20 RBIs in April, setting a Cubs rookie record. He was 1-for-4 with one RBI Thursday.
--The Cubs averaged 6.3 runs per game in April, their highest at the end of April since 1954, when they averaged 7.6 in 10 games.
--The 19 runs scored by the Cubs on Wednesday were the most since they beat the Dodgers 20-1 at Wrigley Field on May 5, 2001.
--Manager Lou Piniella was agitated after Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Brewers. He substituted Felix Pie in center field for Reed Johnson. Asked if he thought about moving Johnson to left to replace Alfonso Soriano, Piniella said, "You're damn right I thought about it. You think I'm stupid or something?"
--RF Kosuke Fukudome went 4-for-4 Thursday, raising his average to .353. Fukudome was 7-for-13 in the three-game series against Milwaukee.
BY THE NUMBERS: 4.56 -- Number of pitches per plate appearance seen by RF Kosuke Fukudome entering this week. It led the NL, but more important for the Cubs, it seems to have rubbed off on this once-free-swinging team as several players are exhibiting more patience at the plate.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We just need our guys here to get better, and I'm fairly confident they will." -- Manager Lou Piniella, on his struggling bullpen.
