--RHP Carlos Zambrano turned in the third quality start in three days for the Cubs but saw his personal five-game winning streak against the Reds end. Zambrano also committed a throwing error.
--LF Alfonso Soriano went 2-for-4 Thursday, with a single and a double, to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. Soriano credited Reds RHP Aaron Harang for shutting down the Cubs but said the offense has to do a better job because the Cubs have scored just one run in their last two games. --LHP Ted Lilly turned in a quality start Wednesday. However, Lilly said his fastball wasn't at its best and that he relied on the curve more. Lilly has been nursing a cold.
BY THE NUMBERS: 7 -- Cubs batters had walked at least four times in a game seven times this season entering the week. That should come as no surprise. The Cubs led the NL in walks and on-base percentage last year. Kosuke Fukudome was leading the way with nine walks, with Mike Fontenot and Alfonso Soriano each having eight.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Tony's not the commissioner. He's a good friend and a heck of a manager, but he's not the commissioner of baseball -- not yet anyway." -- Manager Lou Piniella on Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, who wondered why the Cubs got away with criticizing umpires.
